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EX-31.2 - GULF RESOURCES, INC.e608769_ex31-2.htm
EX-31.1 - GULF RESOURCES, INC.e608769_ex31-1.htm
EX-32.1 - GULF RESOURCES, INC.e608769_ex32-1.htm
 
 UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-Q
 
x
QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
   
 
For the quarterly period ended June 30, 2011
   
 
Or
   
o
TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
   
 
For the transition period from _________ to _________

Commission File Number: 000-20936

GULF RESOURCES, INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
 
Delaware
 
13-3637458
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)
 
(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
     
99 Wenchang Road, Chenming Industrial Park, Shouguang City, Shandong, China
 
262714
(Address of principal executive offices)
 
(Zip Code)
 
Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: +86 (536) 567 0008

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.
Yes x No o

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every, Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files).
Yes x No o

 
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company.  See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
  
Large accelerated filer o
Accelerated filer x
Non-accelerated filer (Do not check if a smaller reporting company) o
Smaller reporting company o
 
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).
Yes o No x

As of August 11, 2011, the registrant had outstanding [34,644,842] shares of common stock.
 
 

 
       
Table of Contents
 
    
 
PART I—FINANCIAL INFORMATION
 
Item 1. Financial Statements
 
GULF RESOURCES, INC.
 AND SUBSIDIARIES
 CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(Expressed in U.S. dollars)
(UNAUDITED)
 
   
June 30, 2011
   
December 31, 2010
 
Current Assets  
           
Cash
 
$
59,738,125
   
$
68,494,480
 
Accounts receivable
   
36,229,621
     
21,542,229
 
Inventories
   
3,151,972
     
2,679,899
 
Prepayments and deposits
   
46,134
     
939,940
 
Prepaid land leases
   
300,385
     
42,761
 
Deferred tax assets
    1,712      
99,694
 
Other receivable
   
151,853
     
-
 
Total Current Assets
    99,619,802      
93,799,003
 
Non-Current Assets                
Property, plant and equipment, net
   
140,623,447
     
112,178,999
 
Property, plant and equipment under capital leases, net
   
2,444,867
     
-
 
Prepaid land leases, net of current portion
   
751,996
     
743,022
 
Deferred tax assets
    2,034,568       -  
Total non-current assets     145,854,878       112,922,021  
Total Assets
 
$
245,474,680
   
$
206,721,024
 
                 
Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity
               
Current Liabilities
               
Accounts payable and accrued expenses
 
$
8,044,689
   
$
6,419,735
 
Retention payable
   
1,623,338
     
453,000
 
Capital lease obligation, current portion
   
82,847
     
-
 
Taxes payable
   
8,035,313
     
7,163,095
 
Total Current Liabilities
   
17,786,187
     
14,035,830
 
Non-Current Liabilities
               
Capital lease obligation, net of current portion
   
2,956,391
     
-
 
Total Liabilities
 
$
20,742,578
   
$
14,035,830
 
 
               
Stockholders’ Equity
               
PREFERRED STOCK ; $0.001 par value; 1,000,000 shares authorized; none outstanding
 
$
-
   
$
-
 
COMMON STOCK; $0.0005 par value; 100,000,000 shares authorized; 34,745,342 and 34,735,912 shares issued; and 34,644,842 and 34,735,912 shares outstanding as of June 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010, respectively
   
17,373
     
17,368
 
Treasury stock
   
(348,147
)
   
-
 
Additional paid-in capital
   
69,795,579
     
66,626,584
 
Retained earnings unappropriated
   
130,888,339
     
106,500,085
 
Retained earnings appropriated
   
10,271,293
   
 10,271,293
 
Cumulative translation adjustment
   
14,107,665
     
9,269,864
 
Total Stockholders’ Equity
   
224,732,102
     
192,685,194
 
Total Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity
 
$
245,474,680
   
$
206,721,024
 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
   
    
GULF RESOURCES, INC.
AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
(Expressed in U.S. dollars)
(UNAUDITED)

 
Three-Month Period Ended June 30,
   
Six-Month Period Ended June 30,
 
 
2011
   
2010
   
2011
   
2010
 
                     
NET REVENUE
                   
Net revenue
  $ 51,300,812     $ 46,751,809     $ 96,679,344     $ 76,445,227  
                                 
OPERATING EXPENSES
                               
Cost of net revenue
    (24,994,703 )     (23,470,972 )     (45,586,087 )     (39,706,471 )
Sales, marketing and other operating expenses
    (23,733 )     (75,687 )     (47,745 )     (96,385 )
Research and development cost
    (133,519 )     (596,151 )     (313,856 )     (721,353 )
Exploration cost
    (3,867,286 )     -       (3,867,286 )     -  
Write-off / Impairment on property, plant and equipment      (7,570,566 )     -       (7,570,566 )     -  
General and administrative expenses
    (1,714,694 )     (731,593 )     (6,055,985 )     (2,988,386 )
      (38,304,501 )     (24,874,403 )     (63,441,525 )     (43,512,595 )
                                 
INCOME FROM OPERATIONS
    12,996,311       21,887,406       33,237,819       32,932,632  
                                 
OTHER INCOME (EXPENSE)
                               
Interest expense
    (65,740 )     (52 )     (107,956 )     (226 )
Interest income
    52,731       59,824       128,775       113,584  
Sundry income
    392,298       -       415,083       21,998  
INCOME BEFORE TAXES
    13,375,600       21,937,178       33,673,721       33,067,988  
                                 
INCOME TAXES
    (3,352,345 )     (5,510,733 )     (9,285,467 )     (8,649,407 )
NET INCOME
  $ 10,023,255     $ 16,426,445     $ 24,388,254     $ 24,418,581  
                                 
COMPREHENSIVE INCOME:
                               
NET INCOME
  $ 10,023,255     $ 16,426,445     $ 24,388,254     $ 24,418,581  
OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
                               
- Foreign currency translation adjustments
    2,816,166       682,396       4,837,801       662,662  
COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
  $ 12,839,421     $ 17,108,841     $ 29,226,055     $ 25,081,243  
                                 
EARNINGS PER SHARE:
                               
BASIC
  $ 0.29     $ 0.47     $ 0.70     $ 0.71  
DILUTED
  $ 0.29     $ 0.47     $ 0.69     $ 0.70  
                                 
WEIGHTED AVERAGE NUMBER OF SHARES:
                               
                                 
BASIC
    34,729,179       34,587,479       34,732,527       34,574,514  
DILUTED
    34,733,188       34,738,667       35,128,273       34,750,714  
 
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
 
   
GULF RESOURCES, INC.
AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
THREE-MONTH PERIOD ENDED JUNE 30, 2011
(Expressed in U.S. dollars)
(UNAUDITED)
 
   
Common stock
                                     
   
Number
   
Number
   
Number
               
Additional
   
Statutory
         
Cumulative
       
   
of shares
   
of shares
   
of treasury
         
Treasury
   
paid-in
   
common
   
Retained
   
translation
       
   
issued
   
outstanding
   
stock
   
Amount
   
stock
   
capital
   
reserve
   
earnings
   
adjustment
   
Total
 
                     
$
   
$
   
$
   
$
   
$
   
$
   
$
 
BALANCE AT DECEMBER 31, 2010
    34,735,912       34,735,912       -       17,368       -       66,626,584       10,271,293       106,500,085       9,269,864       192,685,194  
                                                                                 
Translation adjustment
 
- 
      -       -    
- 
           
- 
   
- 
   
- 
      4,837,801       4,837,801  
Common stock repurchased
    -       (100,500 )     100,500       -       (348,147 )     -       -       -       -       (348,147
Common stock issued for exercising stock options
 
9,430 
      9,430       -    
5 
              (5  
- 
   
- 
      -       -  
Issuance of warrants to non-employees
    -       -       -       -       -       452,000       -       -       -       452,000  
Issuance of stock options to employees
    -       -       -       -       -       2,717,000       -       -       -       2,717,000  
Net income for six-month period ended June 30, 2011
 
- 
      -       -    
- 
      -    
- 
   
- 
      24,388,254    
- 
      24,388,254  
BALANCE AT JUNE 30, 2011
    34,745,342       34,644,842       100,500       17,373       (348,147 )     69,795,579       10,271,293       130,888,339       14,107,665       224,732,102  

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
   
 
GULF RESOURCES, INC.
AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(Expressed in U.S. dollars)
(UNAUDITED)

 
   
Six-Month Period Ended June 30,
 
   
2011
   
2010
 
   
 
   
 
 
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES
 
 
   
 
 
Net income
 
$
24,388,254
   
$
24,418,581
 
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
             
Interest on capital lease obligation
   
106,835
     
-
 
Amortization of prepaid land leases
   
102,831
     
46,379
 
Depreciation and amortization
   
7,468,616
     
4,787,674
 
Write-off / Impairment loss on property, plant and equipment
   
7,570,566
     
-
 
Stock-based compensation expense
   
3,169,000
     
1,188,966
 
Deferred tax asset
   
(1,913,608
)
 
(21,445
)
Changes in assets and liabilities:
             
Accounts receivable
   
(14,033,743
)
   
(10,055,752
)
Inventories
   
(405,227
)
   
19,405
 
Prepayments and deposits
   
905,669
     
(682,423
)
Other receivables
   
(151,853
)
   
-
 
Accounts payable and accrued expenses
   
1,468,892
     
4,920,174
 
Taxes payable
   
697,706
     
3,320,663
 
Net cash provided by operating activities
   
29,373,938
     
27,942,222
 
               
CASH FLOWS USED IN INVESTING ACTIVITIES
             
Additions of prepaid land leases
   
(348,196
)
   
(50,940
)
Purchase of property, plant and equipment
   
(34,075,105
)
   
(20,283,022
)
Increase in construction in progress
   
(4,609,456
)
   
(551,699
)
Net cash used in investing activities
   
(39,032,757
)
   
(20,885,661
)
               
CASH FLOWS PROVIDED BY FINANCING ACTIVITIES
             
Proceeds from exercising stock options
   
-
     
18,000
 
Proceeds from private placement
   
-
   
2,192,919
 
Repurchase of common stock
   
(348,147
)
 
-
 
Repayment of capital lease obligation
   
(288,739
)
 
-
 
Advance from a related party
   
-
   
231,210
 
Net cash (used in)/provided by financing activities
   
(636,886
)
   
2,442,129
 
               
EFFECTS OF EXCHANGE RATE CHANGES ON CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS
   
1,539,350
     
161,947
 
NET (DECREASE)/INCREASE IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS
   
(8,756,355
)
   
9,660,637
 
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS - BEGINNING OF PERIOD
   
68,494,480
     
45,536,735
 
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS - END OF PERIOD
 
$
59,738,125
   
$
55,197,372
 

 
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
 
       
GULF RESOURCES, INC.
AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (CONTINUED)
(Expressed in U.S. dollars)
(UNAUDITED)
 
   
Six-Month Period Ended June 30,
 
   
2011
   
2010
 
SUPPLEMENTAL DISCLOSURE OF CASH FLOW INFORMATION
 
 
   
 
 
Cash paid during the period for:
 
 
   
 
 
Income taxes
 
$
10,341,857
   
$
6,157,079
 
Interest paid
 
1,121
   
226
 
SUPPLEMENTAL DISCLOSURE OF NON-CASH INVESTING AND
FINANCING ACTIVITIES
           
Inception of capital lease obligation for acquiring property, plant and equipment
 
$
3,127,913
   
-
 
                 
Issuance of stock options to employees
 
2,717,000
   
$
-
 
                 
Issuance of warrants to non-employees
 
$
452,000
   
-
 
                 
Issuance of common stock for exercising stock options
 
$
5
   
-
 
                 
Issuance of common stock for exercising warrants
 
$
-
   
8
 
                 
Issuance of common stock for acquiring property, plant and equipment
 
$
-
   
608,227
 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
 
     
GULF RESOURCES, INC.
AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
JUNE 30, 2011
(Expressed in U.S. dollars)
(UNAUDITED)
 
NOTE 1 – BASIS OF PRESENTATION AND SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

(a)           Basis of Presentation

The accompanying condensed financial statements have been prepared by Gulf Resources, Inc. a Delaware corporation and its subsidiaries (collectively, the “Company”), without audit, in accordance with the instructions to Form 10-Q and, therefore, do not necessarily include all information and footnotes necessary for a fair statement of its financial position, results of operations and cash flows in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (“US GAAP”). The balance sheet at December 31, 2010 is derived from the audited balance sheet at that date which is not presented herein.

In the opinion of management, the unaudited financial information for the quarter ended and six-month period ended June 30, 2011 presented reflects all adjustments, which are only normal and recurring, necessary for a fair statement of results of operations, financial position and cash flows. These condensed financial statements should be read in conjunction with the financial statements included in the 2010 Form 10-K. Operating results for the interim periods are not necessarily indicative of operating results for an entire fiscal year.
 
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with US GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts that are reported in the financial statements and accompanying disclosures. Although these estimates are based on management’s best knowledge of current events and actions that the Company may undertake in the future, actual results may be different from the estimates. The Company also exercises judgments in the preparation of these condensed financial statements in the areas including classification of leases and related party transactions.
 
(b)           Nature of the Business

The Company manufactures and trades bromine and crude salt through its wholly-owned subsidiary, Shouguang City Haoyuan Chemical Company Limited ("SCHC"), and manufactures chemical products for use in the oil industry and paper manufacturing industry through its wholly-owned subsidiary, Shouguang Yuxin Chemical Industry Co., Limited ("SYCI") in The People’s Republic of China (“PRC”).

(c)           Allowance for Doubtful Accounts

As of June 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010, allowance for doubtful accounts were nil. No allowances for doubtful accounts were charged to the income statement for the three-month and six-month periods ended June 30, 2011 and 2010.

(d)           Concentration of Credit Risk

The Company is exposed to credit risk in the normal course of business, primarily related to accounts receivable and cash and cash equivalents. Substantially all of the Company’s cash and cash equivalents are maintained with financial institutions in the PRC, namely, Industrial and Commercial Bank of China Limited and China Merchants Bank Company Limited, which are not insured or otherwise protected. The Company placed $59,688,124 and $68,444,480 with these institutions as of June 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010, respectively.  The Company has not experienced any losses in such accounts in the PRC.

Concentrations of credit risk with respect to accounts receivable exists as the Company sells a substantial portion of its products to a limited number of customers. However, such concentrations of credit risks are limited since the Company performs ongoing credit evaluations of its customers’ financial condition and due to the generally short payment terms.  The balances of accounts receivable as of June 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010 are all amounts outstanding for less than three months.

(e)           Property, Plant and Equipment

Property, plant and equipment are stated at cost less accumulated depreciation and any impairment losses. Expenditures for new facilities or equipment and expenditures that extend the useful lives of existing facilities or equipment are capitalized and depreciated using the straight-line method at rates sufficient to depreciate such costs over the estimated productive lives.

Mineral rights are recorded at cost less accumulated depreciation and any impairment losses. Mineral rights are amortized ratably over the term of the lease, or the equivalent term under the units of production method, whichever is shorter.
   
  
GULF RESOURCES, INC.
AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
JUNE 30, 2011
 (Expressed in U.S. dollars)
(UNAUDITED)

NOTE 1 – BASIS OF PRESENTATION AND SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES – Continued

(e)           Property, Plant and Equipment – Continued

Construction in progress primarily represents direct costs of construction of plant, machinery and equipment. Costs incurred are capitalized and transferred to property and equipment upon completion, at which time depreciation commences. Cost of repairs and maintenance is expensed as incurred.

The Company’s depreciation and amortization policies on property, plant and equipment other than mineral rights and construction in progress, are as follows:
 
 
Useful life
(in years)
Buildings (including salt pans)
15 - 20
Plant and machinery
5 - 8
Motor vehicles
5
Furniture, fixtures and equipment
8
 
For the three-month period ended June 30, 2011, the Company changed the estimated useful life of certain protection shell/brick of transmission channels and ducts included in plant and machinery from 8 years to 5 years, resulting in an increase of depreciation in the amount of $548,859 for the three-month period ended June 30, 2011.
 
Property, plant and equipment under capital leases are depreciated over their expected useful lives on the same basis as owned assets, or where shorter, the term of the lease, which is 20 years.

(f)           Retirement Benefits

Pursuant to the relevant laws and regulations in the PRC, the Company participates in a defined contribution retirement plan for its employees arranged by a governmental organization. The Company makes contributions to the retirement scheme at the applicable rate based on the employees’ salaries.  The required contributions under the retirement plans are charged to the consolidated income statement on an accrual basis when they are due.  The Company’s contributions totaled $105,537 and $132,964 for the three-month periods ended June 30, 2011 and 2010, respectively, and totaled $226,912 and $242,966 for the six-month periods ended June 30, 2011 and 2010, respectively.

(g)           Mineral Rights

The Company follows the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 805 that certain mineral rights are considered tangible assets and that mineral rights should be accounted for based on their substance. Mineral rights are included in property, plant and equipment.

(h)           Revenue Recognition

The Company recognizes revenue, net of value-added tax, when persuasive evidence of an arrangement exists, delivery of the goods has occurred, customer acceptance has been obtained, which means the significant risks and ownership have been transferred to the customer, the price is fixed or determinable and collectability is reasonably assured.

(i)           Shipping and Handling Fees and Costs

The Company does not charge its customers for shipping and handling.  The Company classifies shipping and handling costs for purchase of raw materials as part of the cost of net revenue. For the three-month periods ended June 30, 2011 and 2010, shipping and handling costs were $167,657 and $164,440, respectively. For the six-month periods ended June 30, 2011 and 2010, shipping and handling costs were $281,228 and $285,311, respectively.
   
(j)           Exploration Cost

Exploration costs, which included the cost of researching appropriate places to drill and the cost of actual drilling of potential natural brine resources, were charged to the income statement as incurred. For the three-month and six-month periods ended June 30, 2011, the Company incurred exploration cost in the amount of $3,867,286 in Sichuan province, PRC, for the drilling of exploratory wells and its associated facilities in order to confirm and measure the resources of natural brine in the areas of drilling. The exploratory wells are still under construction and expected to complete by end of 2011.
 
  
GULF RESOURCES, INC.
AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
JUNE 30, 2011
 (Expressed in U.S. dollars)
(UNAUDITED)

NOTE 1 – BASIS OF PRESENTATION AND SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES – Continued

(k)           Cash and Cash Equivalents

Cash and cash equivalents consist of all cash balances and highly liquid investments with original maturities of three months or less.  Because of short maturity of these investments, the carrying amounts approximate their fair values.

(l)           Impairment or Disposal of Long-lived Assets

In accordance with ASC 360-10-35 “Impairment or Disposal of Long-lived Assets”, long-lived assets to be held and used are analyzed for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset may not be fully recoverable or that the useful lives of those assets are no longer appropriate. The Company evaluates at each balance sheet date whether events and circumstances have occurred that indicate possible impairment.

The Company determines the existence of such impairment by measuring the expected future cash flows (undiscounted and without interest charges) and comparing such amount to the carrying amount of the assets. An impairment loss, if one exists, is then measured as the amount by which the carrying amount of the asset exceeds the discounted estimated future cash flows. Assets to be disposed of are reported at the lower of the carrying amount or fair value of such assets less costs to sell. Asset impairment charges are recorded to reduce the carrying amount of the long-lived asset that will be sold or disposed of to their estimated fair values. Charges for the asset impairment reduce the carrying amount of the long-lived assets to their estimated salvage value in connection with the decision to dispose of such assets.

For the three-month and six-month periods ended and as of June 30, 2011, the Company made impairment of long-lived assets for the relocation of Factory No. 4 and idle plant and machinery in the amount of $3,873,087. The Company determined that there was no impairment of long-lived assets as of December 31, 2010.
 
(m)           Income Taxes
 
The Company accounts for income taxes in accordance with the Income Taxes Topic of the FASB ASC, which requires the use of the liability method of accounting for deferred income taxes. Under this method, deferred income taxes are recorded to reflect the tax consequences on future years of temporary differences between the tax basis of assets and liabilities and their reported amounts at each period end. If it is more likely than not that some portion or all of a deferred tax asset will not be realized, a valuation allowance is recognized. The guidance also provides criteria for the recognition, measurement, presentation and disclosures of uncertain tax positions. A tax benefit from an uncertain tax position may be recognized if it is “more likely than not” that the position is sustainable based solely on its technical merits.
 
(n)           Leasing arrangements
 
Rentals payable under operating leases are charged to the statements of income on a straight line basis over the term of the relevant lease. For capital leases, the present value of future minimum lease payments at the inception of the lease is reflected as an asset and a liability in the statement of financial position. Amounts due within one year are classified as short-term liabilities and the remaining balance as long-term liabilities.
 
(o)           Contingencies
 
The Company accrues for costs relating to litigation, including litigation defense costs, claims and other contingent matters, including liquidated damage liabilities, when such liabilities become probable and reasonably estimable.  Such estimates may be based on advice from third parties or on management’s judgment, as appropriate.  Revisions to accruals are reflected in earnings (loss) in the period in which different facts or information become known or circumstances change that affect the Company’s previous assumptions with respect to the likelihood or amount of loss.  Amounts paid upon the ultimate resolution of such liabilities may be materially different from previous estimates.
 
(p)           Basic and Diluted Net Income per Share of Common Stock

Basic earnings per common share are based on the weighted average number of shares outstanding during the periods presented.  Diluted earnings per share are computed using weighted average number of common shares plus dilutive common share equivalents outstanding during the period. Anti-dilutive common stock equivalents which were excluded from the calculation of number of dilutive common stock equivalents amounted to 1,378,847 and 8,221 shares for the three-month periods ended June 30, 2011 and 2010, respectively, and amounted to 241,002 and 3,053 shares for the six-month periods ended June 30, 2011 and 2010, respectively.

The following table sets forth the computation of basic and diluted earnings per share:
 
  
 
Three-Month Period Ended June 30,
   
Six-Month Period Ended June 30,
   
2011
   
2010
     
2011
     
2010
 
Numerator
                           
Net income
 
$
10,023,255
   
$
16,426,445
   
$
24,388,254
   
$
24,418,581
 
                                 
Denominator
                               
Basic: Weighted-average common shares outstanding during the period
   
34,729,179
     
34,587,479
     
34,732,527
     
34,574,514
 
Add: Dilutive effect of stock options
   
4,009
     
151,188
     
395,746
     
176,200
 
Diluted
   
34,733,188
     
34,738,667
     
35,128,273
     
34,750,714
 
                                 
Net income per share
                               
Basic
 
$
0.29
   
$
0.47
   
$
0.70
   
$
0.71
 
Diluted
 
$
0.29
   
$
0.47
   
$
0.69
   
$
0.70
 
 
    
GULF RESOURCES, INC.
AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
JUNE 30, 2011
(Expressed in U.S. dollars)
(UNAUDITED)

NOTE 1 – BASIS OF PRESENTATION AND SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES – Continued

(q)           Foreign Currency Translations and Transactions

The Company’s operations in the PRC use the local currency, Renminbi (“RMB”), as their functional currency, whereas amounts reported in the accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements and disclosures are stated in the United States dollar (“USD” or “$”), the functional currency and the reporting currency of the Company.

As such, the Company uses the “current rate method” to translate its PRC operations from RMB into USD, as required under ASC 830 “Foreign Currency Matters”. The assets and liabilities of its PRC operations are translated into USD using the rate of exchange prevailing at the balance sheet date. The capital accounts are translated at the historical rate. Adjustments resulting from the translation of the balance sheets of the Company’s PRC subsidiaries from RMB into USD are recorded in stockholders’ equity as part of accumulated comprehensive income. The consolidated statement of income and comprehensive income is translated at average rates during the reporting period. Gains or losses resulting from transactions in currencies other than the functional currencies are recognized in net income for the reporting periods. The consolidated statement of cash flows is translated at average rates during the reporting period, with the exception of issuance of shares and payment of dividends which are translated at historical rates.

(r)           New Accounting Pronouncements

No accounting standards and guidance with an effective date during the six-month period ended June 30, 2011 or issued during 2011 had or expected to have a significant impact on the Company’s condensed consolidated financial statements.
 
NOTE 2 – ASSETS ACQUISITIONS
 
Pursuant to the lease contract signed by SCHC on November 5, 2010 with State-Operated ShouguanQingshuibo Farm (the “Lessor”), the Company recognized in January 2011 (1) a 20-year capital lease of a real property adjacent to Factory No. 1, with the related production facility, channels and ducts, other production equipment and the buildings located on the property, with an annual payment of Renminbi (“RMB”)1,877,000 (approximately $290,034) up to December 31, 2030 to the Lessor, aggregating $3,127,913 (the present value of the minimum lease payments); and (2) a 20-year land lease and rights to new extraction wells on which the aforesaid real property, production facilities, channels and ducts, other production equipment and the buildings are situated, with an annual payment of RMB3,123,000 (approximately $482,566) up to December 31, 2030 to the Lessor.  The lease was accounted for under FASB ASC 840-10-25 “Leases – Recognition” and $3,127,913 was included in property, plant equipment under capital lease as of June 30, 2011.
 
The Company also enhanced the new plant and machinery in the first quarter of 2011 by making capital improvement in reconstruction and renovation work at a cost of approximately $3,050,400, which was recorded as buildings and plant and machinery, for the operation of the aforesaid real property, production facilities, channels and ducts, other production equipment and the buildings located on the property.

During the quarter ended June 30, 2011, the Company carried out enhancement projects to its existing bromine extraction and crude salt production facilities.  In particular, the Company incurred reconstruction and renovation works at a cost of approximately $12,379,153 for its crude salt fields in Factory No. 1, 5 to 9, and at a cost of approximately $20,087,600 for its extraction wells and transmission channels and ducts in Factory No. 1 to 9.  The above enhancement projects have estimated useful lives of 5 to 8 years and are capitalized as buildings and plant and machinery.

NOTE 3 – INVENTORIES

Inventory consists of:
   
June 30,
2011
   
December 31,
2010
 
             
Raw materials
 
$
754,324
   
$
769,817
 
Finished goods
   
2,404,497
     
1,916,775
 
Allowance for obsolete and slow moving inventory
   
(6,849
)
   
(6,693
)
   
$
3,151,972
   
$
2,679,899
 
 
 
GULF RESOURCES, INC.
AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
JUNE 30, 2011
(Expressed in U.S. dollars)
(UNAUDITED)
 
NOTE 4 – PREPAID LAND LEASES
 
The Company prepaid for land leases with lease terms for periods ranging from twenty to fifty years to use the land on which the office premises, production facilities and warehouse of the Company are situated. The prepaid land lease is amortized on a straight line basis. During the three-month period ended June 30, 2011, amortization of prepaid land lease totaled $72,989, which was recorded as cost of net revenue.  During the three-month period ended June 30, 2010, amortization of prepaid land lease totaled $24,322, of which $24,175 and $147 were recorded as cost of revenue and administrative expenses respectively. During the six-month period ended June 30, 2011, amortization of prepaid land lease totaled $102,831, which was recorded as cost of net revenue.  During the six-month period ended June 30, 2010, amortization of prepaid land lease totaled $46,379, of which $46,085 and $294 were recorded as cost of net revenue and administrative expenses respectively.

The Company has the rights to use certain parcels of land located in Shouguang, the PRC, through lease agreements signed with local townships.  Such parcels of land are collectively owned by local townships and accordingly, the Company could not obtain land use rights certificates on these parcels of land.  The parcels of land of which the Company could not obtain land use rights certificates covers a total of approximately 94.64 square kilometers of aggregate carrying value of $1,009,383 and approximately 92.32 square kilometers of aggregate carrying value of $743,275 as at June 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010, respectively.

NOTE 5 – PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT, NET

Property, plant and equipment, net consist of the following:
 
   
June 30,
2011
   
December 31,
2010
 
At cost:
           
Mineral rights
  $ 6,151,933     $ 6,011,790  
Buildings (including salt pans)
    40,241,602       41,082,825  
Plant and machinery
    119,793,169       85,944,460  
Motor vehicles
    6,838       6,683  
Furniture, fixtures and equipment
    3,950,101       3,850,525  
Construction in progress
    4,609,456       -  
Total
    174,753,099       136,896,283  
                 
Less: Impairment
  (­­­3,190,041     -  
Less: Accumulated depreciation and amortization
    (30,939,611 )     (24,717,284 )
Net book value
  $ 140,623,447     $ 112,178,999  
 
The Company has certain buildings and salt pans erecting on parcels of land located in Shouguang, the PRC, and such parcels of land are collectively owned by local townships.  The Company has not been able to obtain property ownership certificates over these buildings and salt pans as the Company could not obtain land use rights certificates on the underlying parcels of land.  The Company could not obtain property ownership certificates covers certain properties of aggregate carrying value of $31,942,453 and aggregate carrying value of $33,868,298 as at June 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010, respectively.

During the three-month period ended June 30, 2011, depreciation and amortization expense totaled $4,120,097, of which $3,830,437 and $196,707 were recorded as cost of net revenue and administrative expenses respectively. During the three-month period ended June 30, 2010, depreciation and amortization expense totaled $2,410,053, of which $2,348,969 and $61,084 were recorded as cost of sales and administrative expenses respectively.  During the six-month period ended June 30, 2011, depreciation and amortization expense totaled $7,375,662, of which $6,805,179 and $570,483 were recorded as cost of net revenue and administrative expenses respectively. During the six-month period ended June 30, 2010, depreciation and amortization expense totaled $4,818,792, of which $4,696,076 and $122,716 were recorded as cost of sales and administrative expenses respectively.
 
    
GULF RESOURCES, INC.
AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
JUNE 30, 2011
(Expressed in U.S. dollars)
(UNAUDITED)

NOTE 5 – PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT, NET – Continued

Construction in progress as at June 30, 2011 represented the construction and renovation costs incurred for new Factory No. 4, which is currently under construction.  In mid-May 2011, the local PRC government requested to recall the leased land of original Factory No. 4 for redevelopment and agreed to lease another parcel of land to the Company nearby to the existing Factory No. 4.  The amount of compensation is still under negotiation with the local PRC government.  The total construction cost of the new Factory No. 4 is approximately $6,721,620, which is expected to be completed by late August 2011.

The operations of the original Factory No. 4 were stopped in early July 2011 to cooperate with the demolition of factory and relocation of useful plant and machinery to new factory. For those fixed assets that could not be relocated to the new factory, the Company made impairment of $1,384,443 as of June 30, 2011 and included the impairment loss in write-off / impairment on property, plant and equipment.

In June 2010, the Company completed the construction of a production line for wastewater treatment chemical additives at a total cost of RMB60,000,000 (equivalent to $8,838,000). A retention payable of $453,000 as at December 31, 2010, representing 5% of the total cost, will be paid to Shouguang City Shengkun Construction Co., Ltd. upon one year after the completion date. The Company decided to switch the aforesaid production line to the production of pharmaceutical and agricultural chemical intermediates in mid-June 2011 as the Company experienced some technological limitations on extraction purity, which lead to a lower than expected gross margin for wastewater treatment chemical additives. An impairment of $1,805,598 was made as of June 30, 2011 and included in write-off / impairment on property, plant and equipment.

In late June 2011, the Company completed the enhancement projects to its crude salt fields, extraction wells and transmission channels and ducts at total costs of RMB210,113,600 (equivalent to $32,466,753). Retention payables of $1,623,338 as at June 30, 2011, representing 5% of the total costs, will be paid to Shouguang City Shengdou Construction Group Co., Ltd. and Shouguang City Shengkun Construction Co., Ltd. upon six months after the completion date. Certain protection shell of crude salt fields and transmission channels and ducts were replaced during the enhancement projects, write-off of $1,632,004 and $2,065,475, respectively, were made as of June 30, 2011 and included in write-off / impairment on property, plant and equipment.

For the three-month periods ended June 30, 2011 and 2010, repair and maintenance expense were $38,457 and $36,682, respectively. For the six-month periods ended June 30, 2011 and 2010, repair and maintenance expense were $89,090 and $61,813, respectively.

NOTE 6 – PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT UNDER CAPITAL LEASES, NET

Property, plant and equipment under capital leases, net consist of the following:

   
June 30,
2011
   
December 31,
2010
 
At cost:
           
Buildings
 
$
127,157
   
$
-
 
Plant and machinery
   
3,094,127
     
-
 
Total
   
3,221,284
     
-
 
                 
Less: Impairment
   
(683,046
)
       
Less: Accumulated depreciation and amortization
   
(93,371
)
   
-
 
Net book value
 
$
2,444,867
   
$
-
 
 
The above buildings erecting on parcels of land located in Shouguang, the PRC are collectively owned by local townships.  The Company has not been able to obtain property ownership certificates over these buildings as the Company could not obtain land use rights certificates on the underlying parcels of land.  

During the three-month and six-month periods ended June 30, 2011, depreciation and amortization expense totaled $92,954, which was recorded as cost of net revenue.
 
An impairment of $683,046 was made as of June 30, 2011 and included in write-off / impairment on property, plant and equipment.
 
  
GULF RESOURCES, INC.
AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
JUNE 30, 2011
(Expressed in U.S. dollars)
(UNAUDITED)

 
NOTE 7 – ACCOUNTS PAYABLE AND ACCRUED EXPENSES

Accounts payable and accrued expenses consist of the following:

   
June 30,
   
December 31,
 
   
2011
   
2010
 
Accounts payable
 
$
6,482,948
   
$
5,661,329
 
Salary payable
   
120,198
     
121,121
 
Social security insurance contribution payable
   
47,778
     
30,946
 
Amount due to a contractor
   
1,008,243
     
-
 
Other payable
   
385,522
     
606,339
 
Total
 
$
8,044,689
   
$
6,419,735
 
 
NOTE 8 – TAXES PAYABLE

 
Taxes payable consists of the following:
 
   
June 30,
   
December 31,
 
   
2011
   
2010
 
Income tax payable
 
$
5,372,871
   
$
4,377,314
 
Mineral resource compensation fee payable
   
685,336
     
486,585
 
Value added tax payable
   
1,174,217
     
1,031,525
 
Land use tax payable
   
526,288
     
966,397
 
Other tax payables
   
276,601
     
301,274
 
Total
 
$
8,035,313
   
$
7,163,095
 
   
NOTE 9 – CAPITAL LEASE OBLIGATION

 
The components of capital lease obligation are as follows:

 
 
Imputed
 
June 30,
   
December 31,
 
 
Interest rate
 
2011
   
2010
 
Total capital lease obligation
6.7%
 
$
3,039,238
   
$
-
 
Less: Current portion
     
(82,847
)
   
-
 
Capital lease obligation, net of current portion
   
$
2,956,391
   
$
-
 

Interest expenses from capital lease obligation amounted to $65,740 and $107,956 were charged to the income statements for the three-month and six-month periods ended June 30, 2011, respectively.
 
NOTE 10 – COMMON STOCK

In the fourth quarter of 2008, the Company granted to one Board member options to purchase a total of 12,500 shares of the Company’s common stock at an exercise price of $1.44 per share and the options vested immediately.  In February 2010, the Company issued 12,500 shares of its common stock upon the exercise of such stock options by the Board member.

In June 2010, the Company issued 70,560 shares of its common stock, valued at $608,227, to acquire assets owned by Mr Jinjin Li, Ms Qiuzhen Wang, Yueliang Wang, Kunming Tian, Gaoming Tian and Zhiqiang Wei.

In the second quarter of 2011, the Company issued 9,430 shares of its common stock based on the fair market price of $3.42 upon the cashless exercise of 12,500 stock options granted to a Board member.
 
 
GULF RESOURCES, INC.
AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
JUNE 30, 2011
(Expressed in U.S. dollars)
(UNAUDITED)

 
NOTE 11 – TREASURY STOCK

In June 2011, the Company repurchased 100,500 common stock of the Company at an average price of $3.46 per share for a total cost of $348,147 under the approval of the Board of Directors.  The Company recorded the entire purchase price of the treasury stock as a reduction of equity.

NOTE 12 – STOCK-BASED COMPENSATION

 
Pursuant to the Amendment to the 2007 Equity Incentive Plan, the aggregate number of stock options available for grant and issuance is 4,341,989 shares.

In February 2011, the Company granted to the investor relations firm a warrant to purchase 50,000 shares of the Company’s common stock at an exercise price of $12.6 per share and the warrants vested immediately. The warrant was valued at $452,000 fair value, using the Black-Scholes option pricing model with assumed 193.42% volatility, a five-year expiration term, a risk free rate of 2.30% and no dividend yield. For the three-month and six-month periods ended June 30, 2011, $0 and $452,000 were recognized as general and administrative expenses, respectively.

In early March 2011, the Company granted to an independent director an option to purchase 12,500 shares of the Company’s common stock at an exercise price of $9.16 per share and the options vested immediately. The options were valued at $35,000 fair value, using the Black-Scholes option pricing model with assumed 64.5% volatility, a three-year expiration term with expected tenor of 1.49 years, a risk free rate of 0.46% and no dividend yield. For the three-month and six-month periods ended June 20, 2011, $0 and $35,000 were recognized as general and administrative expenses, respectively.

In late March 2011, the Company granted to 3 executive officers options to purchase 1,200,000 shares of the Company’s common stock at an exercise price of $4.97 per share and the options are exercisable in equal installments over periods of two years. The options were valued at $4,317,000 fair value, using the Black-Scholes option pricing model with assumed 77.22% to 94.36% volatility, a four-year expiration term with expected tenors of 2 to 2.49 years, risk free rates of 0.81% to 1.05% and no dividend yield. For the three-month and six-month periods ended June 30, 2011, $0 and $1,945,000 was recognized as general and administrative expenses, respectively.

In late March 2011, the Company also granted to 18 management staff options to purchase 654,000 shares of the Company’s common stock at an exercise price of $4.97 per share and the options are exercisable in equal installments over periods of three years. The options were valued at $2,632,000 fair value, using the Black-Scholes option pricing model with assumed 77.22% to 118.84% volatility, a four-year expiration term with expected tenors of 2 to 3 years, risk free rates of 0.81% to 1.29% and no dividend yield. For the three-month and six-month periods ended June 30, 2011, $0 and $706,000 were recognized as general and administrative expenses, respectively.

In early May 2011, the Company granted to an independent director an option to purchase 12,500 shares of the Company’s common stock at an exercise price of $2.93 per share and the option vested immediately. The option was valued at $15,800 fair value, using the Black-Scholes option pricing model with assumed 79.91% volatility, a four-year expiration term with expected tenor of 2 years, a risk free rate of 0.57% and no dividend yield. For the three-month and six-month periods ended June 30, 2011, $15,800 was recognized as general and administrative expenses.

In late June 2011, the Company granted to an independent director an option to purchase 12,500 shares of the Company’s common stock at an exercise price of $3.10 per share and the option vested immediately. The option was valued at $15,200 fair value, using the Black-Scholes option pricing model with assumed 86.36% volatility, a three-year expiration term with expected tenor of 1.49 years, a risk free rate of 0.32% and no dividend yield. For the three-month and six-month periods ended June 30, 2011, $15,200 was recognized as general and administrative expenses.

As of June 30, 2011, there was $4,298,000 of total unrecognized compensation cost related to non-vested stock options granted under the 2007 Equity Incentive Plan that is expected to be recognized in next 2 years.
 
    
GULF RESOURCES, INC.
AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
JUNE 30, 2011
(Expressed in U.S. dollars)
(UNAUDITED)

 
NOTE 12 – STOCK-BASED COMPENSATION – Continued

The following table summarizes all Company stock option transactions between January 1, 2011 and June 30, 2011.
 
   
Number of Option
and Warrants
Outstanding
   
Number of Option
and Warrants
Non-vested
   
Number of Option
and Warrants
Vested
   
Range of
Exercise Price per Common Share
 
Balance, January 1, 2011
    458,971       -       458,971       $0.84 - $12.00  
Granted during the six-month
period ended June 30, 2011
    1,941,500       1,941,500       -       $2.93 - $12.60  
Vested during the six-month period
ended June 30, 2011
    -       (905,500 )     905,500       $2.93 - $12.60  
Exercised during the six-month
period ended June 30, 2011
    (12,500 )     -       (12,500 )     $0.84  
Forfeited or expired during the six-
month period ended June 30, 2011
    (50,000 )     -       (50,000 )     $8.25 - $10.43  
Balance, June 30, 2011
    2,337,971       1,036,000       1,301,971       $2.93 - $12.60  

 
   
Stock and Warrants Options Outstanding
           
Weighted Average
 
Weighted Average
   
Outstanding
 
Range of
 
Remaining
 
Exercise Price of Options
   
at June 30, 2011
 
Exercise Prices
 
Contractual Life (Years)
 
Currently Outstanding
Exercisable
 
1,301,971
 
$2.93 - $12.60
 
3.16
 
$   6.49
Non-exercisable
 
1,036,000
 
$4.97
 
3.75
 
$   4.97
Total Outstanding
 
2,337,971
 
$2.93 - $12.60
 
3.42
 
$   5.82

 
The weighted average grant-date fair values as at June 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010 were $7.01 and $8.83, respectively.

At June 30, 2011, the aggregate intrinsic value of the stock options and warrants was $3,097,667.

NOTE 13 – INCOME TAXES

The Company utilizes the asset and liability method of accounting for income taxes in accordance with FASB ASC 740-10.

(a)           United States

Gulf Resources, Inc. is subject to the United States of America Tax law at tax rate of 34%. No provision for the US federal income taxes has been made as the Company had no US taxable income for the periods ended June 30, 2011 and 2010, and management believes that its earnings are permanently invested in the PRC. As of June 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010, the accumulated undistributed PRC earnings are $157,247,491 and $129,338,559, respectively.

(b)           BVI

Upper Class Group Limited was incorporated in the BVI and, under the current laws of the BVI, it is not subject to tax on income or capital gain in the BVI. Upper Class Group Limited did not generate assessable profit for the periods ended June 30, 2011 and 2010.
 
 
GULF RESOURCES, INC.
AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
JUNE 30, 2011
(Expressed in U.S. dollars)
(UNAUDITED)

 
NOTE 13 – INCOME TAXES – Continued

(c)           Hong Kong

Hong Kong Jiaxing Industrial Limited was incorporated in Hong Kong and is subject to Hong Kong profits tax. The Company is subject to Hong Kong taxation on its activities conducted in Hong Kong and income arising in or derived from Hong Kong.  No provision for profits tax has been made as the Company has no assessable income for the period.  The applicable statutory tax rates for the periods ended June 30, 2011 and 2010 are 16.5%.

(d)           PRC
 
Enterprise income tax (“EIT”) for SCHC and SYCI in the PRC is charged at 25% of the assessable profits.

The operating subsidiaries SCHC and SYCI are wholly foreign-owned enterprises (“FIE”) incorporated in the PRC and are subject to PRC Foreign Enterprise Income Tax Law.

On February 22, 2008, the Ministry of Finance (“MOF”) and the State Administration of Taxation (“SAT”) jointly issued Cai Shui [2008] Circular 1 (“Circular 1”). According to Article 4 of Circular 1, distributions of accumulated profits earned by a FIE prior to January 1, 2008 to foreign investor(s) in 2008 will be exempted from withholding tax (“WHT”) while distribution of the profit earned by an FIE after January 1, 2008 to its foreign investor(s) shall be subject to WHT at 5% effective tax rate.

Since the Company intends to reinvest its earnings to further expand its businesses in mainland China, its foreign invested enterprises do not intend to declare dividends to their immediate foreign holding companies in the foreseeable future. Accordingly, as of June 30, 2011, the Company has not recorded any WHT on the cumulative amount of undistributed retained earnings of its foreign invested enterprises in China.  As of June 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010, the unrecognized WHT are $7,862,375 and $6,466,928, respectively.

The effective income tax expenses differ from the PRC statutory income tax rate of 25% from continuing operations in the PRC as follows:

 
   
Three-Month Period
   
Six-Month Period
 
   
Ended June 30,
   
Ended June 30
 
Reconciliations
 
2011
   
2010
   
2011
   
2010
 
                         
Statutory income tax rate
    25 %     25 %     25 %     25 %
Non-deductible items and
  under-provision in prior periods
    0 %     0 %     3 %     1 %
Effective tax rate
    25 %     25 %     28 %     26 %
 
 
GULF RESOURCES, INC.
AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
JUNE 30, 2011
(Expressed in U.S. dollars)
(UNAUDITED)
 
NOTE 13 – INCOME TAXES – Continued

Significant components of the Company’s deferred tax assets and liabilities at June 30, 2011 and December 30, 2010 are as follows:

   
June 30,
   
December 31,
 
   
2011
   
2010
 
Deferred tax liabilities
 
$
-
   
$
-
 
                 
Deferred tax assets:
               
Allowance for obsolete and slow-moving inventories
 
$
1,712
   
$
1,674
 
Impairment on property, plant and equipment
   
968,272
     
-
 
Exploration costs
   
971,158
     
-
 
Property, plant and equipment
   
86,832
     
98,020
 
Property, plant and equipment under capital leases
   
8,306
     
-
 
US federal net operating loss
   
8,895,208
     
7,698,225
 
                 
Total deferred tax assets
   
10,931,488
     
7,797,919
 
                 
Valuation allowance
   
(8,895,208
)
   
(7,698,225
)
                 
Net deferred tax asset
 
$
2,036,280
   
$
99,694
 
                 
Current deferred tax asset
 
$
1,712
   
$
99,694
 
                 
Long-term deferred tax asset
 
$
2,034,568
   
$
-
 

There was no unrecognized tax benefits and accrual for uncertain tax positions as of June 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010.

Tax returns filed regarding tax years from 2004 through 2010 are subject to review by the respective tax authorities.
  
NOTE 14 – BUSINESS SEGMENTS

The Company has three reportable segments:  bromine, crude salt and chemical products.
 
Three-Month Period Ended
June 30, 2011
 
Bromine *
   
Crude
 Salt *
   
Chemical
 Products
   
Segment
 Total
   
Corporate
   
Total
 
                                     
Net revenue
 
$
33,230,646
   
$
5,994,384
   
$
12,075,782
   
$
51,300,812
   
$
-
   
$
51,300,812
 
Income (loss) from operations
   
9,448,177
     
1,926,627
     
2,029,160
     
13,403,964
     
(407,653
)
   
12,996,311
 
Income taxes
   
2,466,262
     
379,478
     
506,605
     
3,352,345
     
-
     
3,352,345
 
Total assets
   
146,989,573
     
52,795,615
     
42,676,361
     
242,461,549
     
3,013,131
     
245,474,680
 
Depreciation and amortization
   
2,859,567
     
578,359
     
682,171
     
4,120,097
     
-
     
4,120,097
 
Capital expenditures
   
24,737,693
     
16,185,485
     
37,664
     
40,960,842
     
-
     
40,960,842
 
Write-off / Impairment      3,749,435       2,015,533       1,805,598       7,570,566       -       7,570,566  
 
  
GULF RESOURCES, INC.
AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
JUNE 30, 2011
(Expressed in U.S. dollars)
(UNAUDITED)

NOTE 14 – BUSINESS SEGMENTS – Continued
 
Three-Month Period Ended
June 30, 2010
 
Bromine *
   
Crude
 Salt *
   
Chemical
 Products
   
Segment
 Total
   
Corporate
   
Total
 
                                     
Net revenue
 
$
30,940,347
   
$
4,043,723
   
$
11,767,739
   
$
46,751,809
   
$
-
   
$
46,751,809
 
Income (loss) from operations
   
15,627,586
     
3,051,102
     
3,389,772
     
22,068,460
     
(191,054
)
   
21,877,406
 
Income taxes
   
4,088,467
     
571,087
     
851,179
     
5,510,733
     
-
     
5,510,733
 
Total assets
   
123,191,728
     
23,437,717
     
35,466,253
     
182,095,698
     
53,107
     
182,148,805
 
Depreciation and amortization
   
1,741,822
     
246,386
     
421,845
     
2,410,053
     
-
     
2,410,053
 
Capital expenditures
   
10,407,637
     
4,214,008
     
2,641,140
     
17,262,785
     
-
     
17,262,785
 
 
Six-Month
Period Ended
June 30, 2011
 
Bromine *
   
Crude
 Salt *
   
Chemical
 Products
   
Segment
 Total
   
Corporate
   
Total
 
                                     
Net revenue
 
$
63,379,962
   
$
11,028,718
   
$
22,270,664
   
$
96,679,344
   
$
-
   
$
96,679,344
 
Income (loss) from operations
   
25,798,291
     
5,873,545
     
5,385,697
     
37,057,533
     
(3,819,714
)
   
33,237,819
 
Income taxes
   
6,742,153
     
1,192,917
     
1,350,397
     
9,285,467
     
-
     
9,285,467
 
Total assets
   
146,989,573
     
52,795,615
     
42,676,361
     
242,461,549
     
3,013,131
     
245,474,680
 
Depreciation and amortization
   
5,014,155
     
1,098,678
     
1,355,783
     
7,468,616
     
-
     
7,468,616
 
Capital expenditures
   
31,649,079
     
16,185,485
     
37,664
     
47,872,228
     
-
     
47,872,228
 
Write-off / Impairment      3,749,435       2,015,533       1,805,598       7,570,566             7,570,566  
 
Six-Month
Period Ended
June 30, 2010
 
Bromine *
   
Crude
 Salt *
   
Chemical
 Products
   
Segment
 Total
   
Corporate
   
Total
 
                                     
Net revenue
 
$
48,002,907
   
$
6,877,621
   
$
21,564,699
   
$
76,445,227
   
$
-
   
$
76,445,227
 
Income (loss) from operations
   
22,828,098
     
4,976,418
     
6,753,287
     
34,557,803
     
(1,625,171
)
   
32,932,632
 
Income taxes
   
6,057,402
     
896,765
     
1,695,240
     
8,649,407
     
-
     
8,649,407
 
Total assets
   
123,191,728
     
23,437,717
     
35,466,253
     
182,095,698
     
53,107
     
182,148,805
 
Depreciation and amortization
   
3,424,609
     
519,605
     
843,460
     
4,787,674
     
-
     
4,787,674
 
Capital expenditures
   
10,407,637
     
4,214,008
     
7,040,639
     
21,662,284
     
-
     
21,662,284
 

* Certain common production overheads, operating and administrative expenses and asset items (mainly cash and certain office equipment) of bromine and crude salt segments in SCHC were split by reference to the average selling price and production volume of respective segment.
 
 
GULF RESOURCES, INC.
AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
JUNE 30, 2011
(Expressed in U.S. dollars)
(UNAUDITED)

NOTE 14 – BUSINESS SEGMENTS – Continued
 
   
Three-Month Period
   
Six-Month Period
 
   
Ended June 30,
   
Ended June 30
 
Reconciliations
 
2011
   
2010
   
2011
   
2010
 
                                 
Total segment operating income
  $ 13,403,964     $ 22,068,460     $ 37,057,533     $ 34,557,803  
Corporate overhead expenses
    (407,653 )     (191,054 )     (3,819,714 )     (1,625,171
Other income
    379,289       59,772       435,902       135,356  
Income tax expense
    (3,352,345 )     (5,510,733 )     (9,285,467 )     (8,649,407 )
                                 
Total consolidated net income
  $ 10,023,255     $ 16,426,445     $ 24,388,254     $ 24,418,581  
 
The following table shows the major customer(s) (10% or more) for the three-month period ended June 30, 2011.

Number
 
Customer
 
Bromine
(000’s)
   
Crude Salt
(000’s)
   
Chemical Products
(000’s)
   
Total
Revenue
(000’s)
   
Percentage of
Total Revenue (%)
 
 1  
Shandong Morui Chemical Company Limited
  $ 3,507     $ 1,121     $ 760     $ 5,388       10.5%  
TOTAL
      $ 3,507     $ 1,121     $ 760     $ 5,388       10.5%  

The following table shows the major customer(s) (10% or more) for the six-month period ended June 30, 2011.

Number
 
Customer
 
Bromine
(000’s)
   
Crude Salt
(000’s)
   
Chemical Products
(000’s)
   
Total
Revenue
(000’s)
   
Percentage of
Total Revenue (%)
 
 1  
Shandong Morui Chemical Company Limited
  $ 9,238     $ 1,963     $ 1,329     $ 12,530       13.0%  
 2  
Shouguang City Rongyuan Chemical Company Limited
  $ 7,285     $ 2,622     $ -     $ 9,907       10.3%  
TOTAL
      $ 16,523     $ 4,585     $ 1,329     $ 22,437       23.3%  

The following table shows the major customer(s) (10% or more) for the three-month period ended June 30, 2010.

 
Number
 
Customer
 
Bromine
(000’s)
   
Crude Salt
(000’s)
   
Chemical Products
(000’s)
   
Total
Revenue
(000’s)
   
Percentage of
Total Revenue (%)
 
 1  
Shouguang City Rongyuan Chemical Company Limited
  $ 4,097     $ 1,047     $ -     $ 5,114       11.0%  
TOTAL
      $ 4,097     $ 1,047     $ -     $ 5,114       11.0%  

The following table shows the major customer(s) (10% or more) for the six-month period ended June 30, 2010.

Number
 
Customer
 
Bromine
(000’s)
   
Crude Salt
(000’s)
   
Chemical Products
(000’s)
   
Total
Revenue
(000’s)
   
Percentage of
Total Revenue (%)
 
 1  
Shouguang City Rongyuan Chemical Company Limited
  $ 6,712     $ 1,546     $ -     $ 8,258       10.8%  
TOTAL
      $ 6,712     $ 1,546     $ -     $ 8,258       10.8%  
 
 
GULF RESOURCES, INC.
AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
JUNE 30, 2011
(Expressed in U.S. dollars)
(UNAUDITED)

NOTE 15 – MAJOR SUPPLIERS

During the three-month and six-month periods ended June 30, 2011, the Company purchased 81.1% and 81.6% of its raw materials from its top five suppliers, respectively.  At June 30, 2011, amounts due to those suppliers included in accounts payable were $5,094,255. During the three-month and six-month periods ended June 30, 2010, the Company purchased 90.8% and 91.2% of its raw material from top five suppliers, respectively.  At June 30, 2010, amounts due to those suppliers included in accounts payable were $9,403,022. This concentration makes the Company vulnerable to a near-term severe impact, should the relationships be terminated.

NOTE 16 – CUSTOMER CONCENTRATION

The Company sells a substantial portion of its products to a limited number of customers.  During the three-month and six-month periods ended June 30, 2011, the Company sold 40.8% and 43.9% of its products to its top five customers, respectively. At June 30, 2011, amounts due from these customers were $16,417,668. During the three-month and six-month periods ended June 30, 2010, the Company sold 41.7% and 41.7% of its products to its top five customers, respectively.  At June 30, 2010, amounts due from these customers were $11,616,499. This concentration makes the Company vulnerable to a near-term severe impact, should the relationships be terminated.

NOTE 17 – FAIR VALUE OF FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS
 
The carrying values of financial instruments, which consist of cash, accounts receivable and accounts payable, other receivables and other payables, approximate their fair values due to the short-term nature of these instruments.  There were no material unrecognized financial assets and liabilities as of June 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010.

NOTE 18 – RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT EXPENSES

On September 6, 2007, SYCI and East China University of Science and Technology formally opened a Co-Op Research and Development Center. The research center is equipped with state of the art chemical engineering instruments for the purpose of pursuing targeted research and development of refined bromide compounds and end products. According to the Co-Op Research Agreement, any research achievement or patents will become assets of the Company. Originally, the Company will provide $500,000 annually until June 2012 to East China University of Science and Technology for research. On June 7, 2011, the Company and East China University of Science and Technology mutually agreed to terminate the Co-op Research Agreement due to the successful completion of the cooperative research and development tasks related to the development of bromine-related chemical products for the Company.

Since the second quarter of 2010, SYCI conducted research for the new production line of wastewater treatment additives, the purpose of which is for the testing of the manufacturing routine and samples. The new production line was started operation and normal production in April 2011. However, the Company decided to switch the aforesaid production line to the production of pharmaceutical and agricultural chemical intermediates in mid-June 2011 as the Company experienced some technological limitations on extraction purity, which lead to a lower than expected gross margin for wastewater treatment chemical additives. The research and development expense incurred for the new production line of wastewater treatment additives from outside parties and the consumption of bromine produced by the Company during the three-month period ended June 30, 2011 were $12,261 and $13,158, respectively. The research and development expense incurred for the new production line of wastewater treatment additives from outside parties and the consumption of bromine produced by the Company during the six-month period ended June 30, 2011 were $33,813 and $43,226, respectively.

The total research and development expense recognized in the income statements during the three-month periods ended June 30, 2011 and 2010 were $133,519 and $596,151, respectively. The total research and development expense recognized in the income statements during the six-month periods ended June 30, 2011 and 2010 were $313,856 and $721,353, respectively.

NOTE 19 – CAPITAL COMMITMENT AND OPERATING LEASE COMMITMENTS

The Company has leased a real property adjacent to Factory No. 1, with the related production facility, channels and ducts, other production equipment and the buildings located on the property, under capital lease.  The future minimum lease payments required under capital lease, together with the present value of such payments, are included in the table show below.
 
 
GULF RESOURCES, INC.
AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
JUNE 30, 2011
(Expressed in U.S. dollars)
(UNAUDITED)

NOTE 19 – CAPITAL COMMITMENT AND OPERATING LEASE COMMITMENTS – Continued

The Company has leased five pieces of land under non-cancelable operating leases, which are fixed in rentals and expired through December 2030, December 2040, February 2059, August 2059 and June 2060, respectively. The Company accounts for the leases as operating leases.

The Company has committed (i) approximately $105,460 for conversion of the new wastewater treatment additives production to the production of pharmaceutical and agricultural chemical intermediates, (ii) approximately $1,680,405 for relocation and construction of new Factory No. 4 and (iii) approximately $3,115,123 for the drilling of exploratory wells and its associated facilities in Sichuan province as of June 30, 2011.

The following table sets forth the Company’s contractual obligations as of June 30, 2011:

   
Capital Lease Obligations
   
Operating Lease Obligations
   
Purchase Obligations
   
Contract for
R&D expenses
 
                         
Less than 1 year
 
$
290,034
   
$
317,624
   
$
4,900,988
   
$
-
 
1 - 3 years
   
580,068
     
1,247,879
     
-
     
-
 
3 - 5 years
   
580,068
     
1,265,104
     
-
     
-
 
More than 5 years
   
4,205,494
     
17,852,586
     
-
     
-
 
Total
 
$
5,655,664
   
$
20,683,193
   
$
4,900,988
   
$
-
 
Less: Amount representing interest
   
(2,616,426
)
                       
Present value of net minimum lease payments
 
$
3,039,238
                         

Rental expenses related to operating leases of the Company amounted to $157,480 and $24,322 were charged to the income statements for the three-month ended June 30, 2011 and 2010, respectively. Rental expenses related to operating leases of the Company amounted to $261,488 and $46,379 were charged to the income statements for the six-month ended June 30, 2011 and 2010, respectively.

NOTE 20 – CONTINGENCY
 
The Company and certain of its officers and directors have been named as defendants in a putative securities class action lawsuit alleging violations of the federal securities laws.  That action, captioned Snellink v. Gulf Resources, Inc., et al., No. 11-cv-3722 ODW (MRWx), was filed on April 29, 2011 in the United States District Court for the Central District of California.  The plaintiff asserts claims for violations of Section 10(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and Rule 10b-5 thereunder.  The complaint alleges the defendants made false or misleading statements in the Company’s Annual Reports on Form 10-K for the years ended December 31, 2008, 2009, and 2010 by failing to disclose material related party transactions and certain facts about the CEO’s prior employment at another company, and by overstating revenue and net income.  The complaint seeks damages in an unspecified amount.
 
On July 26, 2011, the Court entered an order appointing lead plaintiffs and lead counsel and requiring lead plaintiffs to file an amended complaint, if any, within 45 days.  The defendants are not required to answer or otherwise respond to the complaint until after the lead plaintiffs either decide to proceed on the basis of the original complaint or file an amended complaint.  The Company intends to defend vigorously against the lawsuit.  The Company currently cannot estimate the amount or range of possible losses of this litigation.       
 
 
Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
 
The discussion below contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, Section 27A of the Securities Act, and Section 21E of the Exchange Act.  We have used words such as “believes,” “intends,” “anticipates,” “expects” and similar expressions to identify forward-looking statements. These statements are based on information currently available to us and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that may cause our actual results of operations, financial condition, cash flows, performance, business prospects and opportunities and the timing of certain events to differ materially from those expressed in, or implied by, these statements. These risks, uncertainties and other factors include, without limitation, those matters discussed in Item 1A of Part I of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2010 (“2010 Form 10-K”).  Except as expressly required by the federal securities laws, we undertake no obligation to update such factors or to publicly announce the results of any of the forward-looking statements contained herein to reflect future events, developments, or changed circumstances, or for any other reason.  The following discussion should be read in conjunction with our consolidated financial statements and notes thereto appearing in our 2010 Form 10-K and Item 1A, “Risk Factors” for the year ended December 31, 2010.

Overview
 
Gulf Resources conducts operations through its two wholly-owned China subsidiaries, SCHC and SYCI. Our business is also reported in these three segments, Bromine, Crude Salt, and Chemical Products.
 
Through SCHC, we produce and sell bromine and crude salt. We are one of the largest producers of bromine in China, as measured by production output. Elemental bromine is used to manufacture a wide variety of brominated compounds used in industry and agriculture. Bromine is commonly used in brominated flame retardants, fumigants, water purification compounds, dyes, medicines, and disinfectants.
 
Through SYCI, we manufacture and sell chemical products that are used in oil and gas field exploration, oil and gas distribution, oil field drilling, wastewater processing, papermaking chemical agents and inorganic chemicals.
 
On December 12, 2006, Gulf Resources acquired, through a share exchange, Upper Class Group Limited, a British Virgin Islands holding corporation which then owned all of the outstanding shares of SCHC. Under accounting principles generally accepted in the United States, this share exchange is considered to be a capital transaction, rather than a business combination, with the share exchange equivalent to the issuance of stock by Upper Class for the net assets of Gulf Resources, accompanied by a recapitalization, and is accounted for as a change in capital structure. Accordingly, the accounting for the share exchange was identical to that resulting from a reverse acquisition, except no goodwill was recorded. Under reverse takeover accounting, the post reverse acquisition comparative historical financial statements of the legal acquirer, Gulf Resources, are those of the legal acquiree, Upper Class Group Limited and its subsidiary, SCHC, which together are considered to be the accounting acquirer. Share and per share amounts reflected in this report have been retroactively adjusted to reflect the merger.

On February 5, 2007, Gulf Resources, through its subsidiary SCHC, acquired SYCI. Since the ownership of Gulf Resources and SYCI was substantially the same prior to the acquisition, the transaction was accounted for as a transaction between entities under common control, whereby the assets and liabilities of SYCI were recognized at their carrying amounts.
     
As a result of our acquisitions of SCHC and SYCI, the historical financial statements and the information presented below reflects the accounts of SCHC and SYCI. The following discussion should be read in conjunction with our consolidated financial statements and notes thereto appearing elsewhere in this report.
  
  
RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
 
The following table presents certain information derived from the consolidated statements of operations, cash flows and stockholders equity for the three-month and six-month periods ended June 30, 2011 and 2010. 
 
 
Three-Month Period
Ended June 30, 2011
 
Three-Month Period
Ended June 30, 2010
 
% Change
Net revenue
$
51,300,812
   
$
46,751,809
 
 
 
10
%
Cost of net revenue
$
(24,994,703
 
$
(23,470,972
 
 
6
%
Gross profit
$
26,306,109
   
$
23,280,837
 
 
 
13
%
Sales, marketing and other operating expenses
$
(23,733
 
$
(75,687
)
   
(69
%)
Research and development costs
$
(133,519
 
$
(596,151
 
 
(78
%)
Exploration cost
$
(3,867,286
)
 
$
-
 
 
 
-
 
Write-off / Impairment on property, plant and equipment
$  (7,570,566   $  -       -  
General and administrative expenses
$
(1,714,694
 
$
(731,593
 
 
134
%
Income from operations
$
12,996,311
   
$
21,877,406
 
 
 
(41
%)
Other income, net
$
379,289
   
$
59,772
 
 
 
535
%
Income before taxes
$
13,375,600
   
$
21,937,178
 
 
 
(39
%)
Income taxes
$
(3,352,345
 
$
(5,510,733
 
 
(39
%)
Net income
$
10,023,255
   
$
16,426,445
 
 
 
(39
%)

 
Six-Month Period
Ended June 30, 2011
 
Six-Month Period
Ended June 30, 2010
 
% Change
Net revenue
$
96,679,344
   
$
76,445,227
 
 
 
26
%
Cost of net revenue
$
(45,586,087
 
$
(39,706,471
 
 
15
%
Gross profit
$
51,093,257
   
$
36,738,756
 
 
 
39
%
Sales, marketing and other operating expenses
$
(47,745
 
$
(96,385
)
   
(50
%)
Research and development costs
$
(313,856
 
$
(721,353
 
 
(56
%)
Exploration cost
$
(3,867,286
)
 
$
-
 
 
 
-
 
Write-off / Impairment on property, plant and equipment
$  (7,570,566   $  -       -  
General and administrative expenses
$
(6,055,985
 
$
(2,988,386
 
 
103
%
Income from operations
$
33,237,819
   
$
32,932,632
 
 
 
1
%
Other income, net
$
435,902
   
$
135,356
 
 
 
222
%
Income before taxes
$
33,673,721
   
$
33,067,988
 
 
 
2
%
Income taxes
$
(9,285,467
 
$
(8,649,407
 
 
7
%
Net income
$
24,388,254
   
$
24,418,581
 
 
 
(0
%)

Net revenue Net revenue was $51,300,812 for three-month period ended June 30, 2011, an increase of approximately $4.5 million (or 10%) as compared to the same period in 2010. This increase was primarily attributable to (i) the steady growth in our bromine segment, in which revenue increased from $30,940,347 for the three-month period ended June 30, 2010 to $33,230,646 for the same period in 2011, an increase of approximately 7%; and (ii) the strong growth in our crude salt segment, in which revenue increased from $4,043,723 for the three-month period ended June 30, 2010 to $5,994,384 for the same period in 2011, an increase of approximately 48%.

   
Net Revenue by Segment
   
   
Three-Month Period Ended
 
Three-Month Period Ended
 
Percent Increase
   
June 30, 2011
 
June 30, 2010
 
of Net Revenue
Segment
       
Percent of total
       
Percent of total
     
Bromine
 
$
33,230,646
     
65
%
 
$
30,940,347
     
66
%
   
7
%
Crude Salt
 
$
5,994,384
     
12
%
 
$
4,043,723
     
9
%
   
48
%
Chemical Products
 
$
12,075,782
     
23
%
 
$
11,767,739
     
25
%
   
3
%
Total sales
 
$
51,300,812
     
100
%
 
$
46,751,809
     
100
%
   
10
%

   
Three-Month Period Ended
   
Percentage Change
Bromine and crude salt segments product sold in tonnes
 
June 30, 2011
   
June 30, 2010
   
Increase/(Decrease)
Bromine
    7,670       10,666       (28 %)
                         
Crude Salt
    124,809       100,101       25 %
 
 
Due to the diverse product mix and varying values, management does not believe that the tonne sold by the chemical product division is a meaningful metric.

Bromine segment
The increase in net revenue from our bromine segment was mainly due to the increase in the average selling price of bromine. The average selling price of bromine increased from $2,901 per tonne for the three-month period ended June 30, 2010 to $4,333 per tonne for the same period in 2011, an increase of 49%. Similar to last quarter, the increase in the average selling price was a result of (i) strong demand for brominated flame retardants, fumigants, water purification compounds, dyes, medicines, and disinfectants in the China market following the recovery of business and economic conditions and reforms in the medical industry in China, and (ii) expansion of bromine applications in a variety of industries. However, the sales volume of bromine, decreased from 10,666 tonnes for the three-month period ended June 30, 2010 to 7,670 tonnes for the same period in 2011, a decrease of approximately 28%. Despite an increase in the number of our bromine production plants in recent years, sales volume of bromine decreased. The decrease in the sales volume of bromine was mainly attributable to (i) less bromine being extracted from brine water during the production process due to a decrease in bromine concentration of brine water being extracted, (ii) the government restricting the supply of electricity to industrial users in May when the usage of electricity in the area of our facilities was high and the supply was limited; and (iii) enhancement construction on our production facilities during the three-month period ended June 30, 2011.

Crude salt segment
The increase in net revenue from our crude salt segment was mainly due to the increase in both the average selling price and sales volume of crude salt. The average selling price of crude salt increased from $40 per tonne for the three-month period ended June 30, 2010 to $48 per tonne for the same period in 2011, an increase of 19%, and the sales volume of crude salt also increased by nearly 25% from 100,101 tonnes for the three-month period ended June 30, 2010 to 124,809 tonnes for the same period in 2011. The increase in average selling price was a result of increased demand for crude salt. In 2010, our sales volume was restricted by limited production capacity. We acquired an additional crude salt field in late 2010, which increased our productivity, and increased the volume of crude salt we sold.

Chemical products segment
Revenues from our chemical products segment increased from $11,767,739 for three-month period ended June 30, 2010 to $12,075,782 for the same period in 2011, an increase of approximately 3%. The increase was mainly attributable to the introduction of a new wastewater treatment chemical additive during April and May 2011, which contributed revenue of $520,014 (or 4%) to our chemical products segment in this quarter. In June we stopped production of our wastewater treatment chemical additive as we experienced some technological limitations on extraction purity, which lead to a lower than expected gross margin. In July we successfully converted the production equipment from this wastewater treatment chemical additive to pharmaceutical and agricultural chemical additives with higher profit margins. Oil and gas exploration chemicals are still our most popular products within the chemical products segment, which contributed $7,994,967 (or 66%) and $8,599,023 (or 73%) of our chemical segment revenue for the three-month period ended June 30, 2011 and 2010, respectively, a decrease of $604,056. Our revenue from agricultural intermediates increased from $1,687,236 for three-month period ended June 30, 2010 to $2,299,138 for the same period in 2011, an increase of approximately 36%. We believe that as a result of the recent macro-economic tightening policy imposed by the PRC government to slow down the economy, the overall demand for chemical additives was reduced, which resulted in a decrease in our revenue from oil and gas exploration additives and paper manufacturing additives. However, the PRC government continues to support expansion of agricultural related products, which supported the growth in sales of pesticides manufacturing additives.

   
Product Mix of Chemical Products Segment
 
Percent
   
Three-Month Period Ended
 
Three-Month Period Ended
 
Change of
   
June 30, 2011
 
June 30, 2010
 
Net Revenue
Chemical Products
       
Percent of total
       
Percent of total
     
Oil and gas exploration additives
 
$
7,994,967
     
66
%
 
$
8,599,023
     
73
%
   
(7
%)
Paper manufacturing additives
 
$
1,261,663
     
11
%
 
$
1,481,480
     
13
%
   
(15
%)
Pesticides manufacturing additives
 
$
2,299,138
     
19
%
 
$
1,687,236
     
14
%
   
36
%
Wastewater treatment chemical additives
 
$
520,014
     
4
%
 
$
-
     
-
%
   
-
%
Total sales
 
$
12,075,782
     
100
%
 
$
11,767,739
     
100
%
   
3
%

Net revenue for the six-month period ended June 30, 2011, was $96,679,344, representing an increase of $20,234,117 or 26% over the same period in 2010. This increase was primarily attributable to (i) the growth in our bromine segment, in which revenue increased from $48,002,907 for the six-month period ended June 30, 2010 to $63,379,962 for the same period in 2011, an increase of approximately 32%; and (ii) the strong growth in our crude salt segment, in which revenue increased from $6,877,621 for the six-month period ended June 30, 2010 to $11,028,718 for the same period in 2011, an increase of approximately 60%.
 
 
   
Net Revenue by Segment
   
   
Six-Month Period Ended
 
Six-Month Period Ended
 
Percent Increase
   
June 30, 2011
 
June 30, 2010
 
of Net Revenue
Segment
       
Percent of total
       
Percent of total
     
Bromine
 
$
63,379,962
     
66
%
 
$
48,002,907
     
63
%
   
32
%
Crude Salt
 
$
11,028,718
     
11
%
 
$
6,877,621
     
9
%
   
60
%
Chemical Products
 
$
22,270,664
     
23
%
 
$
21,564,699
     
28
%
   
3
%
Total sales
 
$
96,679,344
     
100
%
 
$
76,445,227
     
100
%
   
26
%

   
Six-Month Period Ended
   
Percentage Change
Bromine and crude salt segments product sold in tonnes
 
June 30, 2011
   
June 30, 2010
   
Increase/(Decrease)
Bromine
   
14,230
     
17,576
     
(19%)
 
                         
Crude Salt
   
225,320
     
178,101
     
27%
 
 
Due to the diverse product mix and varying values, management does not believe that the tonne sold by the chemical product division is a meaningful metric.
 
Bromine segment
The increase in net revenue from our bromine segment was mainly due to the increase in the average selling price of bromine. The average selling price of bromine increased from $2,731 per tonne for the six-month period ended June 30, 2010 to $4,454 per tonne for the same period in 2011, an increase of 63%. As mentioned in aforesaid paragraphs for three-month period ended June 30, 2011, the increase in average selling price was a result of (i) strong demand in the China market following the recovery of business and economic conditions and reforms in the medical industry in China, and (ii) expansion of bromine applications in a variety of industries. However, the sales volume of bromine, decreased from 17,576 tonnes for the six-month period ended June 30, 2010 to 14,230 tonnes for the same period in 2011, a decrease of approximately 19%. Despite an increase in the number of our bromine production plants in recent years, sales volume of bromine decreased. The reasons for the decrease in the sales volume of bromine are the same as mentioned in aforesaid paragraphs for the three-month period ended June 30, 2011.

Crude salt segment
The increase in net revenue from our crude salt segment was mainly due to the increase in both the average selling price and sales volume of crude salt. The average selling price of crude salt increased from $39 per tonne for the six-month period ended June 30, 2010 to $49 per tonne for the same period in 2011, an increase of 27%, and the sales volume of crude salt also increased from 178,101 tonnes for the six-month period ended June 30, 2010 to 225,320 tonnes for the same period in 2011, an increase of approximately 27%. As mentioned in aforesaid paragraphs for three-month period ended June 30, 2011, the increase in average selling price was a result of increased demand for crude salt and the increase in our productivity as a result of the additional crude salt field we acquired in late 2010, which increased the volume of crude salt we sold.

Chemical products segment
Revenues from our chemical products segment increased from $21,564,699 for six-month period ended June 30, 2010 to $22,270,664 for the same period in 2011, an increase of approximately 3%. The increase was mainly attributable to the introduction of a new wastewater treatment chemical additive during April and May 2011, which contributed revenue of $520,013 (or 2%) to our chemical products segment in the first half of 2011. As mentioned hereinbefore, in June we stopped production of our wastewater treatment chemical additive and in July we successfully converted the production equipment from this wastewater treatment chemical additive to pharmaceutical and agricultural chemical additives with higher profit margins. Our oil and gas exploration chemicals are the most popular products within the chemical products segment, which contributed $15,194,568 (or 68%) and $16,256,884 (or 76%) of our chemical segment revenue for the six-month period ended June 30, 2011 and 2010, respectively, with a decrease of $1,062,316. As mentioned hereinbefore, we believe that as result of the recent macro-economic tightening policy imposed by the PRC government to slow down the economy, the overall demand for chemical additives was reduced, which resulted in a decrease in our revenue in oil and gas exploration additives and paper manufacturing additives. However, revenue from our agricultural intermediates increased from $2,666,873 for six-month period ended June 30, 2010 to $4,048,390 for the same period in 2011, an increase of approximately 52%. The PRC government continues to support expansion of agricultural related products, which supported the growth in sales of pesticides manufacturing additives.
 
  
   
Product Mix of Chemical Products Segment
 
Percent
   
Six-Month Period Ended
 
Six-Month Period Ended
 
Change of
   
June 30, 2011
 
June 30, 2010
 
Net Revenue
Chemical Products
       
Percent of total
       
Percent of total
     
Oil and gas exploration additives
 
$
15,194,568
     
68
%
 
$
16,256,884
     
76
%
   
(7
%)
Paper manufacturing additives
 
$
2,507,693
     
12
%
 
$
2,640,942
     
12
%
   
(5
%)
Pesticides manufacturing additives
 
$
4,048,390
     
18
%
 
$
2,666,873
     
12
%
   
52
%
Wastewater treatment chemical additives
 
$
520,013
     
2
%
 
$
-
     
-
%
   
-
%
Total sales
 
$
22,270,664
     
100
%
 
$
21,564,699
     
100
%
   
26
%

Although net revenue in all segments grew, the growth of sales of bromine and crude salt was much higher than that of our chemical products operations mainly due to the outweighed increase in average selling price of bromine and crude salt.

Cost of Net Revenue
 
   
Cost of Net Revenue by Segment
 
% Change
   
Three-Month Period Ended
 
Three-Month Period Ended
 
of Cost of
   
June 30, 2011
 
June 30, 2010
 
Net Revenue
Segment
       
% of Net Revenue
       
% of Net Revenue
     
Bromine
 
$
15,518,035
     
47
%
 
$
14,850,528
     
48
%
   
4
%
Crude Salt
 
$
1,410,903
     
24
%
 
$
928,056
     
23
%
   
52
%
Chemical Products
 
$
8,065,765
     
67
%
 
$
7,692,388
     
65
%
   
5
%
Total
 
$
24,994,703
     
49
%
 
$
23,470,972
     
50
%
   
6
%

   
Cost of Net Revenue by Segment
 
% Change
   
Six-Month Period Ended
 
Six-Month Period Ended
 
of Cost of
   
June 30, 2011
 
June 30, 2010
 
Net Revenue
Segment
       
% of Net Revenue
       
% of Net Revenue
     
Bromine
 
$
28,767,486
     
45
%
 
$
24,037,114
     
50
%
   
20
%
Crude Salt
 
$
2,416,297
     
22
%
 
$
1,725,612
     
25
%
   
40
%
Chemical Products
 
$
14,402,304
     
65
%
 
$
13,943,745
     
65
%
   
3
%
Total
 
$
45,586,087
     
47
%
 
$
39,706,471
     
52
%
   
15
%

Cost of net revenue reflects mainly the raw materials consumed and the direct salaries and benefits of staff engaged in the production process, electricity, depreciation and amortization of manufacturing plant and machinery and other manufacturing costs. Our cost of net revenue was $24,994,703 for three-month period ended June 30, 2011, an increase of $1,523,731 (or approximately 6%) compared to the same period in 2010. Our cost of net revenue was $45,586,087 for six-month period ended June 30, 2011, an increase of $5,879,616 (or approximately 15%) compared to the same period in 2010. The increase in both the three-month and six-month periods ended June 30, 2011 was primarily due to the increase in the purchase price of raw materials, depreciation and amortization of manufacturing plant and machinery and mineral resources compensation fees paid for extraction of brine water in the bromine segment. The rate of increase for cost of net revenue was lower than that of net revenue as (i) the supply and price of raw materials are relatively stable in compared with the selling price of bromine and (ii) the leverage of bulk purchase of raw materials which partially lowered the percentage of increase in price of raw materials.

Bromine segment
For the three-month period ended June 30, 2011, the cost of net revenue for the bromine segment was $15,518,035, representing an increase of $667,507 or 4% over the same period in 2010. The three major components of the cost of revenue for the bromine segment, namely, cost of raw materials and finished goods consumed, depreciation and amortization of manufacturing plant and machinery and electricity, contributed $10,235,449 (or 66%), $2,590,493 (or 17%) and $1,257,231 (or 8%), respectively to of the cost of net revenue. For the three-month period ended June 30, 2010, the major components of the cost of net revenue was cost of raw materials and finished goods consumed of $10,194,791 (or 69%), depreciation and amortization of manufacturing plant and machinery of $1,695,160 (or 11%) and electricity of $1,563,523 (or 11%), a similar cost structure as compared with the same in 2011. The rate of increase for cost of net revenue was lower than that of net revenue because (i) the supply and price of raw materials are relatively stable compared with the selling price of bromine and (ii) bulk purchases of raw materials partially lowered the percentage of increase in the price of raw materials.
 
 
The cost of net revenue for bromine segment for the six-month period ended June 30, 2011 was $28,767,486, an increase of $4,730,372 (or 20%) compared to $24,037,114 for the same period in 2010. The most significant components of our cost of net revenue for the bromine segment were cost of raw materials and finished goods consumed of $19,205,474 (or 67%), depreciation and amortization of manufacturing plant and machinery of $4,664,737 (or 16%) and electricity of $2,152,256 (or 7%) for the six-month period ended June 30, 2011. The major components of the cost of revenue for the six-month period ended June 30, 2010 were cost of raw materials and finished goods consumed of $16,238,954 (or 68%), depreciation and amortization of manufacturing plant and machinery of $3,362,959 (or 14%) and electricity of $2,568,132 (or 11%). The increase in cost of net revenue was attributable to the increase in raw material prices.

Crude salt segment
The cost of net revenue for crude salt segment for the three-month period ended June 30, 2011 was $1,410,903, an increase of $482,847 (or 52%) compared to $928,056 for the same period in 2010. The increase was mainly attributable to an increase in the number of our crude salt fields for evaporation of crude salt, which increased the corresponding variable costs, such as resource tax paid and depreciation and amortization of manufacturing plant and machinery. The significant cost components for the three-month period ended June 30, 2011 were depreciation and amortization of $565,445 (or 40%), resource tax calculated based on the crude salt sold of $383,988 (or 27%) and electricity of $193,447 (or 14%). The significant cost components for the three-month period ended June 30, 2010 were depreciation and amortization of $239,869 (or 26%), resource tax of $293,756 (or 32%) and electricity of $218,869 (24%).

For the six-month period ended June 30, 2011, the cost of net revenue for crude salt segment was $2,416,297, representing an increase of $690,685 or 40% over the same period in 2010. As mentioned hereinbefore, the increase in cost was mainly due to the increase in the number of crude salt fields. The significant costs were depreciation and amortization of $1,070,479 (or 44%), resource tax of $689,342 (or 29%) and electricity of $363,715 (or 15%) for the six-month period ended June 30, 2011. The major cost components were depreciation and amortization of $505,461 (or 29%), resource tax of $522,530 (or 30%) and electricity of 384,567 (or 22%) for the six-month period ended June 30, 2010.

Chemical products segment
Cost of net revenue for the three-month period ended June 30, 2011, was $8,065,765, representing an increase of $373,377 or 5% over the same period in 2010. The rate of increase for the cost of net revenue for chemical products segment was similar to that of net revenue. The significant costs were cost of raw material and finished goods consumed of $6,961,495 (or 86%) and $6,949,642 (90%) and depreciation and amortization of manufacturing plant and machinery of $674,499 (or 8%) and $413,940 (or 5%) for each of the three-month periods ended June 30, 2011 and 2010, respectively.

For the six-month period ended June 30, 2011, the cost of net revenue was $14,402,304, representing an increase of $458,559 or 3% over the same period in 2010. The rate of increase for the cost of net revenue for chemical products segment was similar to that of net revenue. The major cost components were cost of raw material and finished goods consumed of $12,635,144 (or 88%) and $12,454,922 (or 89%) and depreciation and amortization of manufacturing plant and machinery of $1,069,963 (or 7%) and $827,655 (or 6%) for each of the six-month periods ended June 30, 2011 and 2010, respectively.

Gross Profit Gross profit was $26,306,109, or 51%, of net revenue for three-month period ended June 30, 2011 compared to $23,280,837, or 50%, of net revenue for the same period in 2010. Gross profit was $51,093,257, or 53%, of net revenue for six-month period ended June 30, 2011 compared to $36,738,756, or 48%, of net revenue for the same period in 2010.

 
   
Gross Profit by Segment
   
   
Three-Month Period Ended
 
Three-Month Period Ended
 
% Point Change
   
June 30, 2011
 
June 30, 2010
 
of Gross Profit
Segment
       
% of Net Revenue
       
% of Net Revenue
     
Bromine
 
$
17,712,611
     
53
%
 
$
16,089,819
     
52
%
   
1
%
Crude Salt
 
$
4,583,481
     
76
%
 
$
3,115,667
     
77
%
   
(1
%)
Chemical Products
 
$
4,010,017
     
33
%
 
$
4,075,351
     
35
%
   
(2
%)
Total Gross Profit
 
$
26,306,109
     
51
%
 
$
23,280,837
     
50
%
   
1
%

 
   
Gross Profit by Segment
   
   
Six-Month Period Ended
 
Six-Month Period Ended
 
% Point Change
   
June 30, 2011
 
June 30, 2010
 
of Gross Profit
Segment
       
% of Net Revenue
       
% of Net Revenue
     
Bromine
 
$
34,612,476
     
55
%
 
$
23,965,793
     
50
%
   
5
%
Crude Salt
 
$
8,612,421
     
78
%
 
$
5,152,009
     
75
%
   
3
%
Chemical Products
 
$
7,868,360
     
35
%
 
$
7,620,954
     
35
%
   
0
%
Total Gross Profit
 
$
51,093,257
     
53
%
 
$
36,738,756
     
48
%
   
5
%
 
 
Bromine segment
For the three-month period ended June 30, 2011 the gross profit margin for our bromine segment was 53% compared to 52% for the same period in 2010. For the three-month period ended June 30, 2011, the average selling price of bromine increased from $2,901 per tonne to $4,333 per tonne compared to the same period in 2010, an increase of 49%. For the six-month period ended June 30, 2011, the average selling price of bromine increased from $2,731 per tonne to $4,454 per tonne for the same period in 2010, an increase of 63%. We expect that the selling price for bromine will not continue to increase during the rest of the year.  As mentioned before, due to a decrease in the bromine concentration of brine water being extracted and government restrictions on electricity supply provided to industrial users, our production capacity in both the three-month and six-month periods ended June 30, 2011 was adversely affected. In order to improve the quality of brine water being extracted from our wells, we completed enhancements of our facilities during the second quarter to pump brine water from deeper underground. We expect the production capacity of bromine will improve in the second half of 2011 as a result of these enhancements.
   
Crude salt segment
For the three-month period ended June 30, 2011 the gross profit margin for our crude salt segment was 76% compared to 77% for the same period in 2010. Such decrease in gross profit margin is attributable to the increase in depreciation and amortization of manufacturing facilities as a result of the acquisition of a crude salt field in late 2010. For the six-month period ended June 30, 2011 the gross profit margin for our crude salt segment was 78% compared to 75% for the same period in 2010. For the six-month period ended June 30, 2011 the average selling price of crude salt increased from $39 per tonne to $49 per tonne compared to the same period in 2010, an increase of 26%. As mentioned hereinbefore, the increase in average selling price was a result of increased demand of crude salt and the increase in gross profit margin of crude salt was mainly caused by the acquisition of a crude salt field in late 2010 which increased the productivity of crude salt and economies of scale.

Chemical products segment
The gross profit margin for chemical products segment remained constant for the three-month and six-month period ended June 30, 2011 as compared to the same period in 2010. As our factory is capable of producing diversified chemical products, the selling price fluctuation of individual chemical products is not expected to have impact to our gross profit margin for overall chemical products.

Research and Development Costs Research and development costs are related to the agreement that SYCI and East China University of Science and Technology entered in June 2007 to establish a Co-Op Research and Development Center to develop new bromine-based chemical compounds and products to be utilized in the pharmaceutical industry. We have the right to use all research findings and patents developed by this center. On June 7, 2011, SYCI and East China University of Science and Technology mutually agreed to terminate the Co-op Research Agreement due to the successful completion of the cooperative research and development tasks related to the development of bromine-related chemical products for us.
 
The total research and development costs incurred for the three-month periods ended June 30, 2011 and 2010 were $133,519 and $596,151, respectively. The total research and development costs incurred for the six-month periods ended June 30, 2011 and 2010 were $313,856 and $721,353, respectively.

Since the second quarter of 2010, SYCI conducted research for the new production line of wastewater treatment additives, the purpose of which is for the testing the manufacturing routine and samples. The research and development expenses incurred for the aforesaid new production line from outside parties and the research-related consumption of the Company’s bromine during the three-month period ended June 30, 2011 were $12,261 and $13,158, respectively. The research and development expenses incurred for the new production line of wastewater treatment additives from outside parties and the research-related consumption of the Company’s bromine during the six-month period ended June 30, 2011 were $33,813 and $43,226, respectively.

The new production line began operations in April 2011. However, we decided to switch the aforesaid production line to the production of pharmaceutical and agricultural chemical intermediates in mid-June 2011 as we experienced some technological limitations on extraction purity, which lead to a lower than expected gross margin for wastewater treatment chemical additives. The converted new production line was started operation and normal production in late July 2011 with positive cash from operations.

Exploration Cost To explore natural brine resources in Sichuan province, SCHC incurred exploration costs in the amount of $3,867,286 for the three-month and six-month periods ended June 30, 2011. These costs consisted of the drilling of exploratory wells and associated facilities in order to confirm and measure the brine water resources in the province. We charged the exploration costs to the income statement as incurred. The exploratory wells are still under construction and expected to complete by the end of 2011.
 
 
Write-off/Impairment on property, plant and equipment The write-off and impairment on property, plant and equipment represented (i) the impairment loss on property, plant and equipment that could not be relocated to the new Factory No. 4 in the amount of $1,384,443; (ii) the impairment loss on property, plant and equipment related to the conversion of our production line from wastewater treatment chemical additives to the production of pharmaceutical and agricultural chemical intermediates in the amount of $1,805,598; (iii) the impairment loss on property, plant and equipment under capital leases for idle plant and machinery in the amount of $683,046; and (iv) the write-off of certain crude salt field protection shells and transmission pipelines replaced during renovation work in the amounts of $1,632,004 and $2,065,475, respectively.

General and Administrative Expenses General and administrative expenses were $1,714,694 for the three-month period ended June 30, 2011, an increase of $983,101 (or 134%) compared to $731,593 for the same period in 2010. This significant increase was primarily due to (i) the demolition and re-installation expense of relocating Factory No. 4 due to the Chinese government taking the leased land, where our original Factory No. 4 was situated, for civil redevelopment in the amount of $467,327;(ii) inclusion of depreciation of owned property, plant and equipment and property, plant and equipment under capital lease which were acquired in last quarter of 2011 but not put into use in the amount of $185,145; and (iii) the increase in legal fees, which primarily related to litigation, by approximately $161,719.

General and administrative expenses were $6,055,985 for the six-month period ended June 30, 2011, an increase of $3,067,599 (or 103%) compared to $2,988,386 for the same period in 2010. Apart from the reasons as mentioned in aforesaid paragraph, the significant increase was primarily due to non-cash expenses of $3,169,000 for the six-month period ended June 30, 2011 related to options granted to our employees in the amount of $2,717,000, and a warrant issued to our investor relations firm in the amount of $452,000 resulting from the service agreement signed in February 2011. The non-cash expenses related to options and a warrant granted for the six-month period ended June 30, 2010 amounted to $1,188,966, which resulted in an increase of $1,980,034, or 167%, as compared with the same period in 2011.  The increase in stock options was primarily for the purpose of incentivizing our employees. Another reason for the increase in general and administrative expenses was due to the increase in salary and welfare payments, depreciation and legal and professional fees by approximately $135,000.
     
Income from Operations

   
Income from Operations by Segment
   
Three-Month Period Ended
June 30, 2011
 
Three-Month Period Ended
June 30, 2010
Segment:
       
Percent of total
     
Percent of total
 
Bromine
 
$
9,448,177
   
  70%
 
$
15,627,586
   
  71%
 
Crude Salt
   
1,926,627
   
  14%
   
3,051,102
   
  14%
 
Chemical Products
   
2,029,160
   
  16%
   
3,389,772
   
  15%
 
Income from operations before corporate costs
   
13,403,964
   
100%
   
22,068,460
   
100%
 
Corporate costs
   
(407,653
)
       
(191,054
)
     
Income from operations
 
$
12,996,311
       
$
21,877,406
       

 
   
Income from Operations by Segment
   
Six-Month Period Ended
June 30, 2011
 
Six-Month Period Ended
June 30, 2010
Segment:
       
Percent of total
     
Percent of total
 
Bromine
 
$
25,798,291
   
  70%
 
$
22,828,098
   
  66%
 
Crude Salt
   
5,873,545
   
  16%
   
4,976,418
   
  14%
 
Chemical Products
   
5,385,697
   
  14%
   
6,753,287
   
  20%
 
Income from operations before corporate costs
   
37,057,533
   
100%
   
34,557,803
   
100%
 
Corporate costs
   
(3,819,714
)
       
(1,625,171
)
     
Income from operations
 
$
33,237,819
       
$
32,932,632
       
 
 
Income from operations was $12,996,311 for the three-month period ended June 30, 2011 (or 25% of net revenue), a decrease of $8,881,095 (or approximately 41%) compared to the same period in 2010. This decrease resulted primarily from the impairment losses and write-off of certain property, plant and equipment in the amount of $7,570,566 and the exploration cost for the drilling of exploratory wells in Sichuan province in the amount of $3,867,286  which outweighed the increase in net revenue, for the three-month period ended June 30, 2011. Income from operations was $33,237,819 for the six-month period ended June 30, 2011 (or 34% of net revenue), a decrease of $305,187 (or approximately 1%) compared to the same period in 2010. This decrease resulted primarily from (i) the impairment losses made and write-off of certain property, plant and equipment; (ii) the exploration cost for drilling of exploration wells in Sichuan province and (iii) the stock compensation expense in the amount of $3,169,000, which was partially offset by the increase in net revenue and relatively lower increase in cost of net revenue, as explained hereinbefore. 
  
Other Income, net

Other income was $379,289 for the three-month period ended June 30, 2011, an increase of $319,517 from $59,772 for the same period in 2010. Other income was $435,902 for the six-month period ended June 30, 2011, an increase of $300,546 from $135,356 for the same period in 2010. Such increase was primarily due to an increase in sundry income which was offset by an increase in interest expense. The increase in interest expense is primarily due to the charge of capital lease interest expense in the amount of $65,262 and $106,977 for the three-month and six-month periods ended June 30, 2011, respectively, since January 2011 for the acquisition of fixed assets under capital lease.  Sundry income includes the sales of wastewater to some of our customers. Wastewater is generated from the production of bromine which eventually becomes crude salt when it evaporates. Not all of our bromine production plants have sufficient area on the property to allow for evaporation of wastewater to produce crude salt. Certain of our customers who have facilities located adjacent to our bromine production plants have agreed to channel our wastewater into salt pans on their properties for evaporation. These customers then are able to sell the resulting crude salt themselves. We have signed agreements with these customers to sell them our wastewater at market prices.

Net Income Net income was $10,023,255 for the three-month period ended June 30, 2011, a decrease of $6,403,190 (or approximately 39%) compared to the same period in 2010. This decrease was primarily attributable to the impairment losses recognized for and the write-off of certain property, plant and equipment and exploration costs related to the drilling of exploratory wells in Sichuan province, which outweighed the increase in net revenue from our bromine and crude salt segments. Net income was $24,388,254 for the six-month period ended June 30, 2011, a decrease of $30,327 (or less than 1%) compared to the same period in 2010. This decrease was primarily attributable to the impairment losses recognized for and the write-off of certain property, plant and equipment and exploration costs related to the drilling of exploratory wells in Sichuan province, which was partially offset by the increase in selling price of bromine and crude salt.
 
 
LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES
 
As of June 30, 2011, cash and cash equivalents were $59,738,125 as compared to $68,494,480 as of December 31, 2010. The components of this decrease of $8,756,355 are reflected below.
 
Statement of Cash Flows
  
   
Six-Month Period Ended June 30,
 
   
2011
   
2010
 
Net cash provided by operating activities
 
$
29,373,938
   
$
27,942,222
 
Net cash used in investing activities
 
$
(39,032,757
)
 
$
(20,885,661
)
Net cash (used in)/provided by financing activities
 
$
(636,886
)
 
$
2,442,129
 
Effects of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents
 
$
1,539,350
   
$
161,947
 
Net (decrease)/increase in cash and cash equivalents
 
$
(8,756,355
)
 
$
9,660,637
 
     
For the six-month period ended June 30, 2011 the Company met its working capital and capital investment requirements mainly by using cash flow from operations and the cash on hand. The Company intends to continue to explore opportunities relating to bromine asset purchases and new bromine resource development. 

Net Cash Provided by Operating Activities
 
During the six-month period ended June 30, 2011, we had positive cash flow from operating activities of $29,373,938 primarily attributable to net income of $24,388,254. Net cash provided by operating activities during the six-month period ended June 30, 2011 increased by $1,431,716 compared to the same period in 2010. The primary source of this increment was due to the increase in net income.
   
Net Cash Used in Investing Activities
 
In the first quarter of 2011, we used approximately $3 million cash to reconstruct and renovate a subdivision of Factory No. 1 which included bromine production facilities and brine water channels acquired under a capital lease.

 
In the second quarter of 2011, we used approximately $31 million cash to carry out enhancement projects to our existing bromine extraction and crude salt production facilities. In particular, we incurred reconstruction and renovation works in the amount of approximately $12 million for our crude salt fields at Factory No. 1, 5 to 9 and in the amount of approximately $19 million for our extraction wells and transmission channels and ducts at Factory No. 1 to 9. We also used approximately $4.6 million cash for the construction of our new Factory No. 4 due to the resumption of leased land by the PRC local government for central redevelopment. The construction of new Factory No. 4 is still under construction and expected to complete by late August 2011. Further capital expenditure needed to complete the construction of new Factory No. 4 is estimated to be approximately $1.7 million.

These projects were financed by opening cash balances as of December 31, 2010 and cash generated from operations during the first half of 2011.
 
Net Cash Used in Financing Activities
 
We repaid approximately $0.3 million cash for our capital lease obligation in first half of 2011 and used another $0.3 million to repurchase 100,500 common stock of the Company under the approval of the Board of Directors.

We believe that our available funds and cash flows generated from operations will be sufficient to meet our anticipated ongoing operating needs for the next twelve (12) months. However we will likely need to raise additional capital in order to fund the ongoing program of acquiring unlicensed bromine properties, increasing our chemical production capacity and developing new bromine and crude salt production line in Sichuan province, PRC.  We expect to raise those funds through credit facilities obtained with lending institutions.  There can be no guarantee that we will be able to obtain such funding, whether through the issuance of debt or equity, on terms satisfactory to management and our board of directors.
 
 
Working capital at June 30, 2011 was approximately $81.8 million as compared to approximately $79.8 million at December 31, 2010. The increase was mainly attributable to the cash provided by operating activities during the six-month period ended June 30, 2011.
 
We had available cash of approximately $59.7 million at June 30, 2011, most of which is in highly liquid current deposits which earn no or little interest. We intend to retain the cash in highly liquid deposit accounts for future expansion of our bromine and crude salt businesses through acquisition, and we do not anticipate paying cash dividends in the foreseeable future.
 
For the immediate future we intend to focus our efforts on the activities of SCHC and SYCI as these segments continue to expand within the Chinese market. Our long-term strategic goal is to extend our market to overseas countries.  As a result, we may issue additional shares of our capital stock and incur new debt in order to raise cash for acquisitions and other capital expenditures during the next twelve months.

We may not be able to identify, successfully integrate or profitably manage any businesses or business segment we may acquire, or any expansion of our business. An expansion may involve a number of risks, including possible adverse effects on our operating results, diversion of management attention, inability to retain key personnel, risks associated with unanticipated events and the financial statement effect of potential impairment of acquired intangible assets, any of which could have a materially adverse effect on our condition and results of operations. In addition, if competition for acquisition candidates or operations were to increase, the cost of acquiring businesses could increase materially. We may effect an acquisition with a target business which may be financially unstable, under-managed, or in its early stages of development or growth. In addition, if competition for acquisition candidates or operations were to increase, the cost of acquiring businesses could increase materially. Our inability to implement and manage our expansion strategy successfully may have a material adverse effect on our business and future prospects.
 
Contractual Commitments
 
The following table sets forth payments due by period for fixed contractual obligations as of June 30, 2011.
 
   
Capital Lease Obligations
   
Operating Lease Obligations
   
Purchase Obligations
 
                   
Less than 1 year
 
$
290,034
   
$
317,624
   
$
4,900,988
 
1 - 3 years
   
580,068
     
1,247,879
     
-
 
3 - 5 years
   
580,068
     
1,265,104
     
-
 
More than 5 years
   
4,205,494
     
17,852,586
     
-
 
Total
 
$
5,655,664
   
$
20,683,193
   
$
4,900,988
 
Less: Amount representing interest
   
(2,616,426
)
               
Present value of net minimum lease payments
 
$
3,039,238
                 

Material Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements

We do not currently have any off balance sheet arrangements falling within the definition of Item 303(a) of Regulation S-K.
   
Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates

Our consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America and this requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities at the date of the consolidated financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. We base its estimates on historical experience and on various other assumptions that are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances. Accordingly, actual results may differ significantly from these estimates under different assumptions or conditions. We have identified the following critical accounting policies and estimates used by us in the preparation of our financial statements: accounts receivable and allowance for doubtful accounts, assets retirement obligation, property, plant and equipment, recoverability of long lived assets, mineral rights, revenue recognition, income taxes, and stock-based compensation. These policies and estimates are described in the Company’s 2010 Form 10-K.
 
   
Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk
 
There have been no material changes in market risk from the information provided in “Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk” of the Company’s 2010 Form 10-K.

Item 4. Controls and Procedures

(a) Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures
 
We maintain disclosure controls and procedures (as such term is defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) that are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed in our reports filed pursuant to the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules, regulations and related forms, and that such information is accumulated and communicated to our management, including our Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”) and Chief Financial Officer (“CFO”), as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.
 
Under the supervision and with the participation of our management, including our CEO and CFO, we conducted an evaluation of the effectiveness of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures as of the end of the period covered by this report. Based on this evaluation, our CEO and CFO concluded that as of June 30, 2011, our disclosure controls and procedures were not effective.  The material weakness on our disclosure controls and procedures as of June 30, 2011 were as follows:

 
There were weaknesses on our subsequent event disclosure controls and procedures.

 
There were weaknesses on timely update of fixed asset register and record and disclosure of transactions and adjustments regarding fixed assets.
 
(b) Changes in internal controls
 
To remediate the material weaknesses disclosed in our 2010 Form 10-K, related to related party transaction, we have implemented the following steps to improve our disclosure controls and procedures in relation to related party transaction disclosure requirements:

·
At beginning of each year, all employees, officers and directors are required to sign a declaration of interest questionnaire to identify any possible conflict of interests with the Company and confirm that they have read the relevant Company’s policies.  For each interim period, all officers and directors are required to provide written confirmation concerning representation of any related party transactions with the Company.

·
Starting from the second quarter of 2011, before accepting a new supplier, customer or a cooperative partner, we have carried out acceptance procedures to review the business reputation, the relationship of shareholders, officers and directors from each party as part of our internal control procedures to identify any related-party relationship.  The acceptance form will be approved and signed by Company’s management before doing business with the new supplier, customer or the cooperative partner.

·
In early July 2011, we have carried out several enhancement training programs related to internal controls on related party transactions with our directors and management.

For future disclosure of subsequent events to our periodic filings, we are currently developing additional checklist for our management to complete prior to release of our periodic filings and expect to put into use by third quarter of 2011.

We intend to update our fixed assets register in early August 2011 to address the material weakness as stated above, and will carry out timely assessment on potential impairment of fixed assets, if any, in our future periodic filings.

Except as described above, there have been no changes in our internal controls over financial reporting (as defined in Rule 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) under the Exchange Act of 1934) during the three months ended June 30, 2011 that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.
      
PART II—OTHER INFORMATION

Item 1. Legal Proceedings

We are not a party to any legal proceedings other than the following.

The Company and certain of its officers and directors have been named as defendants in a putative securities class action lawsuit alleging violations of the federal securities laws.  That action, captioned Snellink v. Gulf Resources, Inc., et al., No. 11-cv-3722 ODW (MRWx), was filed on April 29, 2011 in the United States District Court for the Central District of California.  The plaintiff asserts claims for violations of Section 10(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and Rule 10b-5 thereunder.  The complaint alleges the defendants made false or misleading statements in the Company’s Annual Reports on Form 10-K for the years ended December 31, 2008, 2009, and 2010 by failing to disclose material related party transactions and certain facts about the CEO’s prior employment at another company, and by overstating revenue and net income.  The complaint seeks damages in an unspecified amount.
 
On July 26, 2011, the Court entered an order appointing lead plaintiffs and lead counsel and requiring lead plaintiffs to file an amended complaint, if any, within 45 days.  The defendants are not required to answer or otherwise respond to the complaint until after the lead plaintiffs either decide to proceed on the basis of the original complaint or file an amended complaint.  The Company intends to defend vigorously against the lawsuit.  The Company currently cannot estimate the outcome of this litigation.     

Item 1A. Risk Factors

Investing in our common stock involves a high degree of risk. Before you invest you should carefully consider the risks and uncertainties described below and in our 2010 Form 10-K, under the caption “Risk Factors”, our Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations set forth in Item 2 of Part I of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, our consolidated financial statements and related notes included in Item 1 of Part I of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q and our consolidated financial statements and related notes, as well as our Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations and the other information in our 2010 Form 10-K. Readers should carefully review those risks, as well as additional risks described in other documents we file from time to time with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
 
We may have to reduce our bromine production volumes based on guidelines isssued by the Shouguang Bromine Professional Association.

We are a member of the Shouguang Bromine Professional Assocation (the “Association”), whose members are bromine producers in the Shouguang region of Shandong province.  Members of the Association are required to follow production guidelines recomneded by the Assocaition. If the Association asks its members to reduce production volumes in the future, we may be required to limit our bromine production volume which could adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.

We may have to temporarily halt production at our facilities in order to prepare for environmental inspections made by the local government.

In the past two years we have experienced an increase in the number of environmental inspections of our factories made by the local government in order to renew our mining licenses, which we have successfully passed.  As a result of these inspections, we may be required to temporarily halt production at our factories in order to prepare for and pass the inspections made by the local government.  If we are required to close some or all of our factories in order to prepare for these inspections, our business, financial condition and results of operaitons could be adversely affected.
Mr. Ming Yang, our Chairman and a substantial shareholder, has potential conflicts of interest with us, which may adversely affect our business

Mr. Ming Yang, our chairman, was a substantial owner of SCHC and SCYI before their acquisition by us, and remains, with the shares held by him, both individually and through Shandong Haoyuan Industry Group Ltd., and by his wife and son, Wenxiang Yu and Zhi Yang, a substantial owner of our securities.  There may have been conflicts of interest between Mr. Yang and our Company as a result of such ownership interests. The terms on which we acquired SCHC and SCYI may have been different from those that would have been obtained if SCHC and SCYI were owned by unrelated parties.  In addition, conflicts of interest between Mr. Yang’s dual roles as our shareholder and our director may arise. We cannot assure you that, when conflicts of interest arise, Mr. Yang will act in the best interests of the Company or that conflicts of interest will be resolved in our favor.

Currently, we do not have existing arrangements to address potential conflicts of interest between Mr. Yang and us. We rely on these Mr. Yang to abide by the laws of the State of Delaware, which provide that directors owe a fiduciary duty to the Company, and which require them to act in good faith and in the best interests of the Company, and not use their positions for personal gain. If we cannot resolve any conflicts of interest or disputes between us and Mr. Yang, we would have to rely on legal proceedings, which could result in disruption of our business and substantial uncertainty as to the outcome of any such legal proceedings.
 
    
Because we do not have any proven or probable reserves of brine water, we may not be able to continue to produce bromine and crude salt at existing levels in the future which could harm our business, results or operations and financial condition

The SEC’s Industry Guide 7, which relates to businesses with mining operations such as ours defines “reserves” as: “that part of a mineral deposit which could be economically and legally extracted or produced at the time of the reserve determination.” In addition, Industry Guide 7 provides the following definitions with respect to the classification of reserves for mining companies:

·
“Proven (Measured) Reserves” - Reserves for which (a) quantity is computed from dimensions revealed in outcrops, trenches, workings or drill holes; grade and/or quality are computed from the results of detailed sampling and (b) the sites for inspection, sampling and measurement are spaced so closely and the geologic character is so well defined that size, shape, depth and mineral content of reserves are well-established.

·
“Probable (Indicated) Reserves” - Reserves for which quantity and grade and/or quality are computed form information similar to that used for proven (measure) reserves, but the sites for inspection, sampling, and measurement are farther apart or are otherwise less adequately spaced. The degree of assurance, although lower than that for proven (measured) reserves, is high enough to assume continuity between points of observation.

We do not have any proven or probable reserves of brine water on our mining properties. Therefore, we cannot provide investors with any assurance that there will be adequate volume or concentration of brine water on our mining properties to continue our bromine and crude salt operations at existing levels or to expand our production capacity of bromine and crude salt. If we experience decreases in the volume and/or concentration of brine water we are able to extract from our mining properties, our business, results of operations and financial condition may be adversely affected.

We are subject to comprehensive regulation by the PRC legal system, which is uncertain. As a result, it may limit the legal protections available to you and us and we may not now be, or remain in the future, in compliance with PRC laws and regulations

SCHC and SYCI, our PRC operating companies, are incorporated under and are governed by the laws of the PRC; all of our operations are conducted in the PRC; and our suppliers and customers are all located in the PRC. The PRC government exercises substantial control over virtually every sector of the PRC economy, including the production, distribution and sale of bromine, brominated chemical products and crude salt. In particular, we are subject to regulation by local and national branches of the Ministry of Land and Resources, as well as the State Administration of Foreign Exchange, and other regulatory bodies. In order to operate under PRC law, we require valid licenses, certificates and permits, which must be renewed from time to time. If we were to fail to obtain the necessary renewals for any reason, including sudden or unexplained changes in local regulatory practice, we could be required to shut down all or part of our operations temporarily or permanently.
 
SCHC and SYCI are subject to PRC accounting laws, which require that an annual audit be performed in accordance with PRC accounting standards. The PRC foreign-invested enterprise laws require that our subsidiary, SCHC, submit periodic fiscal reports and statements to financial and tax authorities and maintain its books of account in accordance with Chinese accounting laws. If PRC authorities were to determine that we were in violation of these requirements, we could lose our business license and be unable to continue operations temporarily or permanently.
 
The legal and judicial systems in the PRC are still rudimentary. The laws governing our business operations are sometimes vague and uncertain and enforcement of existing laws is inconsistent. Thus, we can offer no assurance that we are, or will remain, in compliance with PRC laws and regulations.

Fluctuations in the value of the RMB may reduce the value of your investment

The value of the RMB against the U.S. dollar and other currencies is affected by, among other things, changes in China's political and economic conditions and China's foreign exchange policies. The conversion of RMB into foreign currencies, including U.S. dollars, has been based on exchange rates set by the People's Bank of China. On July 21, 2005, the PRC government changed its decade-old policy of pegging the value of the RMB solely to the U.S. dollar. Under this revised policy, the RMB is permitted to fluctuate within a narrow and managed band against a basket of certain foreign currencies. Following the removal of the U.S. dollar peg, the RMB appreciated more than 20% against the U.S. dollar over the following three years. However, the People’s Bank of China regularly intervenes in the foreign exchange market to prevent significant short-term fluctuations in the exchange rate and achieve policy goals. For almost two years after July 2008, the RMB traded within a narrow range against the U.S. dollar. As a consequence, the RMB fluctuated significantly during that period against other freely traded currencies, in tandem with the U.S. dollar. In June 2010, the PRC government announced that it would increase RMB exchange rate flexibility. However, it remains unclear how this flexibility might be implemented. There remains significant international pressure on the PRC government to adopt a more flexible currency policy, which could result in a further and more significant appreciation of the RMB against the U.S. dollar.
 
 
Because substantially all of our revenues and expenditures are denominated in RMB and our cash is denominated in U.S. dollars, fluctuations in the exchange rate between the U.S. dollar and RMB will affect the relative purchasing power of such amounts and our balance sheet and earnings per share in U.S. dollars. In addition, we report financial results in U.S. dollars, and appreciation or depreciation in the value of the RMB relative to the U.S. dollar would affect our financial results reported in U.S. dollars terms without giving effect to any underlying change in our business or results of operations. Fluctuations in the exchange rate will also affect the relative value of earnings from and the value of any U.S. dollar-denominated investments we make in the future.

Very limited hedging transactions are available in China to reduce our exposure to exchange rate fluctuations. To date, we have not entered into any hedging transactions in an effort to reduce our exposure to foreign currency exchange risk. While we may decide to enter into hedging transactions in the future, the availability and effectiveness of these hedging transactions may be limited and we may not be able to successfully hedge our exposure at all. In addition, our currency exchange losses may be magnified by PRC exchange control regulations that restrict our ability to convert RMB into foreign currency.

Failure of our PRC resident shareholders to comply with regulations on foreign exchange registration of overseas investment by PRC residents could cause us to lose our ability to contribute capital to SCHC and remit profits out of the PRC as dividends

The Notice on Relevant Issues Concerning Foreign Exchange Administration for Domestic Residents to Engage in Overseas Financing and Round Trip Investment via Overseas Special Purpose Vehicles (“Circular 75”), issued by the SAFE and effective on November 1, 2005, regulates the foreign exchange matters in relation to the use of a “special purpose vehicle” by PRC residents to seek offshore equity financing and conduct a ‘‘round trip investment’’ in China. Under Circular 75, a “special purpose vehicle” refers to an offshore entity directly established or indirectly controlled by PRC resident natural or legal persons (“PRC residents”) for the purpose of seeking offshore equity financing using assets or interests owned by such PRC residents in onshore companies, while “round trip investment” refers to the direct investment in China by such PRC residents through the “special purpose vehicles,” including, without limitation, establishing foreign-invested enterprises and using such foreign-invested enterprises to purchase or control onshore assets through contractual arrangements. Circular 75 requires that, before establishing or controlling a “special purpose vehicle”, PRC residents and PRC entities are required to complete a foreign exchange registration with the competent local branches of the SAFE for their overseas investments. After the completion of a round-trip investment or the overseas equity financing, the PRC residents are required to go through foreign exchange registration alteration formalities of overseas investment in respect of net assets of special purpose vehicles that such PRC residents hold and the variation thereof.

In addition, an amendment to the registration is required if there is a material change in the “special purpose vehicle,” such as increase or reduction of share capital and transfer of shares. Failure to comply with the registration procedures set forth in Circular 75 may result in restrictions on the foreign exchange activities of the relevant foreign-invested enterprises, including the payment of dividends and other distributions, such as proceeds from any reduction in capital, share transfer or liquidation, to its offshore parent or affiliate and the capital inflow from the offshore parent, and may also subject the relevant PRC residents to penalties under PRC foreign exchange administration regulations.

We have requested our current PRC resident shareholders and/or beneficial owners to disclose whether they or their shareholders or beneficial owners fall within the scope of the Circular 75 and urges PRC residents to register with the local SAFE branch as required under the Circular 75. Our affiliates subject to the SAFE registration requirements, including Mr. Ming Yang, our Chairman, Ms. Wenxiang Yu, the wife of Mr. Yang, and Mr. Zhi Yang, Mr. Yang’s son, have informed us that they have not made their initial registrations with SAFE. The failure of our PRC resident shareholders and/or beneficial owners to timely furnish or amend their SAFE registrations pursuant to the Circular 75 or the failure of our future shareholders and/or beneficial owners who are PRC residents to comply with the registration requirement set forth in the Circular 75 may subject such shareholders, beneficial owners and/or SCHC to fines and legal sanctions. Any such failure may also limit our ability to contribute additional capital into SCHC, limit SCHC’s ability to distribute dividends to us or otherwise adversely affect our business.

The PRC government could restrict access in the future to foreign currencies for current account transactions. If the foreign exchange control system prevents us from obtaining sufficient foreign currency to satisfy our currency demands, we may not be able to pay certain expenses as they come due or may restrict which limit the payment of dividends from the Company.
 
 
We may be treated as a resident enterprise for PRC tax purposes under the currently effective EIT Law, which may subject us to PRC income tax on our taxable global income

On March 16, 2007, the National People’s Congress approved and promulgated a new tax law, the PRC Enterprise Income Tax Law (“EIT Law”). On November 28, 2007, the PRC State Council passed the implementing rules of the EIT Law. Both the EIT Law and the implementing rules of the EIT Law took effect on January 1, 2008. Under the EIT Law, enterprises are classified as “resident enterprises” and “non-resident enterprises.” An enterprise established outside of China with “de facto management bodies” within China is considered a “resident enterprise,” meaning that it can be treated in a manner similar to a Chinese enterprise for enterprise income tax purposes. The implementing rules of the EIT Law define “de facto management bodies” as a managing body that in practice exercises “substantial and overall management and control over the production and operations, personnel, accounting, and properties” of the enterprise; however, it remains unclear whether the PRC tax authorities would deem our managing body as being located within China. Due to the short history of the EIT Law and lack of applicable legal precedents, the PRC tax authorities determine the PRC tax resident treatment of a foreign (non-PRC) company on a case-by-case basis.

If the PRC tax authorities determine that we are a “resident enterprise” for PRC enterprise income tax purposes, a number of PRC tax consequences could follow. First, we may be subject to the enterprise income tax at a rate of 25% on our global taxable income, as well as PRC enterprise income tax reporting obligations. Second, under the EIT Law and its implementing rules, dividends paid between “qualified resident enterprises” are exempt from enterprise income tax. It is unclear whether the dividends we receive will constitute dividends between “qualified resident enterprises” and would therefore qualify for tax exemption, because the definition of qualified resident enterprises is unclear and the relevant PRC governmental authorities have not yet issued guidance with respect to the processing of outbound remittances to entities that are treated as resident enterprises for PRC enterprise income tax purposes.

In addition to the uncertainty as to the application of the “resident enterprise” classification, there can be no assurance that the PRC governmental authorities will not amend or revise the taxation laws, rules and regulations to impose stricter tax requirements, higher tax rates or retroactively apply the EIT Law, or any subsequent changes in PRC tax laws, rules or regulations. If such changes occur and/or if such changes are applied retroactively, such changes could materially and adversely affect our results of operations and financial condition.

Techniques employed by manipulative short sellers in Chinese small cap stocks may drive down the market price of our common stock

Short selling is the practice of selling securities that the seller does not own but rather has, supposedly, borrowed from a third party with the intention of buying identical securities back at a later date to return to the lender. The short seller hopes to profit from a decline in the value of the securities between the sale of the borrowed securities and the purchase of the replacement shares, as the short seller expects to pay less in that purchase than it received in the sale.   As it is therefore in the short seller’s best interests for the price of the stock to decline, many short sellers (sometime known as “disclosed shorts”) publish, or arrange for the publication of, negative opinions regarding the relevant issuer and its business prospects in order to create negative market momentum and generate profits for themselves after selling a stock short.  While traditionally these disclosed shorts were limited in their ability to access mainstream business media or to otherwise create negative market rumors, the rise of the Internet and technological advancements regarding document creation, videotaping and publication by weblog (“blogging”) have allowed many disclosed shorts to publicly attack a company’s credibility, strategy and veracity by means of so-called research reports that mimic the type of investment analysis performed by large Wall Street firm and independent research analysts.  These short attacks have, in the past, led to selling of shares in the market, on occasion in large scale and broad base.  Issuers with business operations based in China and who have limited trading volumes and are susceptible to higher volatility levels than U.S. domestic large-cap stocks, can be particularly vulnerable to such short attacks.
   
These short seller publications are not regulated by any governmental, self-regulatory organization or other official authority in the U.S., are not subject to the certification requirements imposed by the Securities and Exchange Commission in Regulation AC (Regulation Analyst Certification) and, accordingly, the opinions they express may be based on distortions of actual facts or, in some cases, fabrications of facts.  In light of the limited risks involved in publishing such information, and the enormous profit that can be made from running just one successful short attack, unless the short sellers become subject to significant penalties, it is more likely than not that disclosed shorts will continue to issue such reports.

While we intend to strongly defend our public filings against any such short seller attacks, oftentimes we are constrained, either by principles of freedom of speech, applicable state law (often called “Anti-SLAPP statutes”), or issues of commercial confidentiality, in the manner in which we can proceed against the relevant short seller.  You should be aware that in light of the relative freedom to operate that such persons enjoy – oftentimes blogging from outside the U.S. with little or no assets or identity requirements – should we be targeted for such an attack, our stock will likely suffer from a temporary, or possibly long term, decline in market price should the rumors created not be dismissed by market participants.
 
     
On April 26, 2011, a report created by Glaucus Research Group and distributed on Seeking Alpha website containing allegations concerning the reliability of the Company’s financial statements filed with the SEC was sent to the investment community.  We have issued various press releases to dispute the allegations in the anonymous report.  Our stock price fell 30.1% from April 25, 2011 to April 26, 2011 after the publication of this report.  The trading volume of the Company’s stock was approximately 12 million the day the report was published as compared to its average daily trading volume over the three-month period prior to the report of 677,061.

Although we will continue to educate investors that the April allegations were inaccurate and misleading, the price of our stock remains vulnerable to the continuing attacks by this and any other short seller.

Decreases in the bromine yield from our brine water could have an adverse effect on our busines, financial position and results of operations

In recent months, we have been able to extract less bromine from brine water during the production process due to a decrease in the bromine concentration of brine water being extracted. In an effort to address this issue, this year we have made improvements to our facilities to increase the depth of our brine water wells. However, we can not be certain that this will improve the bromine yield from our production facilities. If we are not able to improve the bromine yield at our production facilities or if the bromine concentration in the brine water we extract continues to decline, our business, financial condition and results of operations could be adversely affected.

Restricted power supply could disrupt our production and have an adverse effect on our business, financial position and results of operations

All of our products are produced at our manufacturing facilities in Shouguang, Shandong province, China.  A significant disruption at those facilities, such as electricity power control, even on a short-term basis, could impair our ability to timely produce and deliver products, which could have an adverse effect on our business, financial position and results of operations. We have encountered power shortages historically due to restrictions on the power supply provided to industrial users when the usage of electricity is high and the supply is limited or as a result of damage to the electricity supply network. Interruptions of electricity supply could result in lengthy production shutdowns, increased costs associated with restarting production and the loss of production in progress.  Any major suspension or termination of electricity or other unexpected business interruptions could have an adverse impact on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

Taking of leased land by the Chinese government could disrupt our production facilities and capacity, and have a material adverse effect on our business, financial position and results of operations

Most of our bromine and crude salt manufacturing facilities are located on land leased by SCHC.  Any taking of leased land by the Chinese government could impair our carrying value of production facilities and our ability to timely produce and deliver products, which could have an adverse effect on our business, financial position and results of operations. In mid-May 2011, one of our leased parcels of land was taken by the Chinese government for civil redevelopment, which caused suspension of the operations of Factory No. 4 in early July 2011 for relocation, which took two months. Any future taking of our leased lands will adversely affect our existing business and productivity.

Item 2. Unregistered Shares of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds

None.
 
Item 3. Defaults Upon Senior Securities

None.

Item 4. (Reserved and Removed)

Item 5. Other Information

None.
 
Item 6. Exhibits
 
Exhibit No.
Description
31.1                         
Rule 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a) Certification of Chief Executive Officer.
 
31.2                         
Rule 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a) Certification of Chief Financial Officer.
 
32.1                         
Section 1350 Certification of Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer
 
 
SIGNATURES
 
Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
 
 
GULF RESOURCES, INC.
     
Dated: August 15, 2011
By:
/s/ Xiaobin Liu
   
Xiaobin Liu
   
Chief Executive Officer
   
(principal executive officer)
     
Dated: August 15, 2011
By:
/s/ Min Li
   
Min Li
   
Chief Financial Officer
   
(principal financial and accounting officer)
 
 
 
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